Chief of Secretary of State's office resigns

Pamela Crowell has resigned as chief of the Secretary of State's Elections Division.

She will be replaced by Reno lawyer Susan Morandi.

"I'm going to take an extended holiday," said Crowell, who has handled campaign and election issues for Secretary of State Dean Heller more than four years. "I need to pay attention to myself, my family and my home."

She described her staff as "exemplary" and said she has "enjoyed working for and with the secretary."

"The last four-and-a-half years has been a grand, wonderful experience," she said.

Heller returned the compliment, saying Crowell will be sorely missed.

"I praise her dedication to the public and to this office," Heller said.

The Elections Division handles all multi-district and statewide campaign filings in the state, including candidate reports of contributions and expenditures.

Morandi is currently a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Howard McKibben in Reno. She will begin work in the Elections Division on Monday.