The Office of the Nevada County Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters has temporarily shut its doors to in-person services after a group forced its way inside and pushed an employee, Gregory Diaz said in a statement.

Diaz, the county’s clerk-recorder/registrar of voters, said the decision was made over security concerns in connection with a recall petition.

“A group of recall proponents, displeased with our office’s efforts to initiate a COVID-19 protocol and enforce a mask mandate, forcibly entered the Clerk-Recorder/Registrar’s Office lobby demanding to know the status of their recall effort,” Diaz said in his statement. “They knew that our office was implementing a COVID-19 protocol, were asked to wear masks before entry and refused, and were offered alternative means to obtain our services but refused to take them. Rather than work with us peacefully, three proponents stormed our office, pushed an employee, and claimed that they had a right to appear in our office in person.”

---

---

According to Diaz, neither the state or federal constitutions, nor county ordinance, gives “any member of the public unfettered access to our office.”

RECALL

Calvin Clark, a recall supporter, said he visited Diaz’s office last Wednesday, telling an employee she should help his group even though they wore no masks, claiming it was discriminatory. The employee then helped them.

---

---

Clark said another group of recall supporters visited the office on Thursday. Clark wasn’t there, but he said he saw a video of what occurred.

A new policy was in effect that Thursday. People had to ring a bell for service, he said.

“If they want to get behind their glass and wear double and triple masks, OK,” Clark said. “Everybody knows what happened. We got a video. We didn’t storm the building. Somebody ought to get their facts straight.”

Clark claims someone tried to slam a door on a recall supporter, injuring her foot.

Recall supporters seek to remove all five supervisors, claiming government overreach and failing to reopen the county when the coronavirus began to diminish.

CLERK-RECORDER’S DUTY

Diaz said that in his position his duty is to “maintain a safe and healthy work environment, free of harassment, intimidation, and threat of violence.”

“As the elected Nevada County clerk-recorder/registrar of voters, I have a duty to keep our guests and employees safe,” Diaz said in his statement. “Unfortunately, this means that we must close our lobby to in-person services temporarily until our office can safely conduct business.

Diaz said his duty is to serve all of the county’s citizens.

“Unlike public meetings, the Office of the Clerk-Recorder is not a public forum,” he said. “There is an expectation that all visitors treat others, including our staff, with respect and decorum.

“We apologize to our constituents for any inconvenience that this temporary closure has caused and look forward to welcoming you all in person soon.”

Staff Writer William Roller contributed to this report