Denton cites experience; addresses rumors in bid for Clerk & Recorder

With a career largely in public service, Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder candidate Crystal Denton believes her experience more than qualifies her for the job.

“Based upon my decades of experience in public service and my dedication to my county and my desire to keep documents accurate and true are why I am seeking this position,” Denton said. 

From 1990 to 1994, Denton worked as volunteer 911 dispatcher in Troy. She worked as a time keeper with the U.S. Forest Service for a few fire seasons in the early 1990s before working as a 911 dispatcher in Missouri from 1995 to 1999 after moving there with her family.

After returning to Montana, she was a part-time dispatcher in Troy for a few years and did another stint as a time keeper with the Forest Service in 2001.

In 2002, Denton joined the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office as a dispatcher. She expanded her career while working within the civil section, Marine Division and administrative office until the 911 administrator position was created.

According to a story in the Bonners Ferry Herald, Denton was named the Idaho 2021 Communication Center Director of the Year. After 20 years on the job, she retired and spent a few years working remotely before being hired in 2024 as the Lincoln County Deputy Clerk and Recorder. She also handled GIS addressing and was the custodian of vital records.

She left that position less than two years ago and now works at a private school in Sanders County. Denton said her decision to leave the county was for financial reasons.

Denton also served as Troy City councilor, including council president, for several years after being elected in 2011, 2015 and 2019. She resigned her seat in 2023 after she and her husband, Bryan, moved outside city limits.

Denton said the opportunity to return to public service was her main reason for seeking the C & R position, which became open when current administrator Corrina Brown decided not to seek re-election. Brown moved into the lead department role following the 2023 resignation of Robin Benson after former District 3 Commissioner Josh Letcher accused her department and Elections Department head Paula Buff of malfeasance. 

Buff later sued the county and both parties settled out of court. Buff now runs the Election Department in Flathead County.

“I love working for the public and our communities,” Denton said in a May 22 interview with The Western News. “But I never saw the race becoming the way it has.”

Denton is referring to an unsubstantiated allegation regarding ballots that recently popped up on local social media pages.

In the 2024 primary election, Denton said she was assigned to work in Eureka by Brown. She shared the information in a post on her Facebook page, Crystal Denton for Clerk and Recorder 2026, and with local media outlets.

“This election cycle has seen a lot of untruths, lies and personal attacks on my past election involvement and my character and I am compelled to speak up,” Denton wrote in part. “Regarding the 2024 primary election, here are the FACTS:

“After the close of polls, the election judges were very busy getting their polling place precincts reviewed and approved by the polling place manager. The polling place staff secured and sealed the voted ballots and other election materials and they were placed in the patrol care of a deputy sheriff. 

“NOTE: The ballots were NOT in my car. The sheriff’s office did this as a courtesy to the Election Department. I then followed the deputy back to Libby. As we were headed toward Libby, I came around a corner and saw the patrol deputy I was following had his top lights on and was stopped. I stopped behind him and saw that he was talking to two people along the side of the road who had a dog with them. He then came back to me and advised that the people had broken down on a side road and that they were walking to the (Koocanusa) Marina to call for help. He asked if I was comfortable transporting them back to their vehicle and that he would be behind me and I did so. 

“I later headed back down Hwy 37 towards Libby and the SO caught up shortly after. We both arrived at the election center within moments of each other. I do know that they were not hitch hikers; they were distressed citizens whose car had broken down, walking in the cold on a very dark night with an older man waiting for their return in a vehicle that was not running. At no time were the ballots other than completely secure in the deputy’s possession.”

Denton also said she was not paid $300 or $400 as claimed in the social media post. She said she took the entire day as comp time, which my timecard substantiates.

Denton also wrote about the 2025 school election.

“I was asked to assist with the election while the Election Administrator was on leave. During that time, I worked closely with the Secretary of State's Election Office to ensure all required documents, postings and ballots were prepared and submitted within the required timelines. Once the Election Administrator returned, she resumed oversight of the process.”

According to previous reporting in The Western News, Election Admin Melanie Howell was placed on administrative leave March 31. She returned to work May 1. At the time, Brown didn’t say why Howell was put on leave, but said her office would be managing the elections with help from election office assistant Sierra Gustin.

In her public statement to the media and online, Denton said, “On Election Day, I assisted with communications and logistical support between polling locations and the Election Office. Later that evening, I reported to the election center to offer additional assistance and left after being advised that no further help was needed. I did not receive overtime compensation for this work and again my timecard substantiates this.

“I previously served on the Troy City Council after being elected by the citizens of Troy in two separate election cycles, records of which are publicly available through the Election Office. I have worked in the office of the Lincoln County Clerk and Recorder and I truly appreciate the importance of facts, not rumors or lies.

“There is no “pending investigation” of me. I have consulted with an attorney as to whether these lies are slander and/or libel, and I have been assured that they are. I do not want to sue anyone to stop these lies, so I hope this honest and transparent statement will stop the lying.

“The Election Office should operate in a fair, impartial, and nonpartisan manner. I am concerned about the increasing spread of misinformation and politically motivated false allegations,” Denton said.

In Denton’s interview with The Western News, she said the county Human Resources Department spoke to her and no trouble was found in the investigation.

Denton also shared why she didn’t share her information prior to her candidacy.

“I wasn’t gonna play their games,” she said. “If people truly believed what was being said, they’d reach out to me. One person did in Eureka and I spoke with him about it.”

Denton said the most recent mistake on the ballot was the last straw for her.

“The disrespect shown to voters really disturbed me - that they were stupid - people are really fearful about their vote counting,” Denton said.

Benton also said she’s served with David Thompson Search & Rescue, Troy Volunteer Ambulance, Troy Dispatch Board, Troy City Council and Troy Rural Fire Board.