July 10, 2023
By:
After more than 14 years of service, the DeKalb County Administrator of Elections is leaving the post.
Dennis Stanley announced this week he is resigning at the end of August, a date that allows ample time for his successor to be trained and prepared for the 2024 election cycle. The DeKalb County Election Commission is set to name his successor at a regular meeting August 15.
“It has been a joy to serve the people of this county and state,” Stanley said. “With the help of staff, the election commission, and the great election workers, I feel like we have one of the better election offices in the state and I am naturally proud of our accomplishments and our track record. A great deal of credit also goes to Walteen Parker, who served as Chairman of the Election Commission for 14 years.
Working with such an intelligent and dedicated person was a wonderful experience. In fact, all the election commissioners during my 14 years have been easy to work with and had the common goal of doing the right thing.”
While he has no immediate plans, Stanley said he hoped to remain somewhat active in the future.
“I was first calling this a retirement, but it is really more of a semi-retirement,” Stanley said. “In addition to spending time with my lovely wife and family and enjoying my hobby, I’ll continue to be open to the right opportunity down the road. It’s just time to slow down and reflect on how blessed I have been in my life.”
During his tenure in office Stanley was actively involved in the improvement and creation of election laws across the state, having served two separate two-year terms on the Legislative Committee of the Tennessee Association of County Election Officials (TACEO). He also twice served as the Middle Tennessee TACEO Vice President. In 2011 he and a colleague created a “media relations” guide that was presented at the annual training seminar for administrators and continues to be available for reference for new administrators on a state intra-net site.
Technological improvements were also made during his time in office. Stanley was in on the ground floor of understanding the importance of cyber-security; purchased poll pads for electronic voter sign-in on election day; routinely updated office computers; and oversaw the recent purchase of new voting machines to comply with a new state law.
“A former colleague once said he wanted to leave the office in better shape than he found it. That always stuck with me,” Stanley said. “With the help of deputy administrator Tina Gee, the machine technicians, election workers, close friends in the business and the election commission, I think I have accomplished that goal.”