RENO, Nev. (AP) — The governor of a key county in Northern Nevada has gone on medical leave, it was announced just days before the election.

Washoe County has been in the spotlight in recent weeks. Turnover at the top of the electoral office There. Now with the departure of Executive Eric Brown, both elections and county government operations will be overseen by lawmakers during what is expected to be a very close election in this politically important county.

The county confirmed Tuesday that Brown is on leave for a planned medical procedure and will be on leave through the end of November. Assistant Regional Manager Dave Solaro will step in until Brown returns.

County officials are trying to allay concerns that the personnel change would impact operations in Nevada’s second-most populous county. District spokeswoman Bethany Drysdale said Solaro served as interim administrator for several months before Brown was hired in 2019, and that she had been with the district for more than two decades.

“(Solaro) joins the rest of the district team in wishing Principal Brown well and looks forward to assuming the duties at hand shortly,” he said in an email to The Associated Press.

Last month, the county announced that Registrar Cari-Ann Burgess medical leave requested to cope with stress. But Burgess said it was forced out After refusing to comply with personnel changes requested by Brown’s office. He said he repeatedly asked to stay, even providing a medical certificate and hiring a lawyer.

Burgess’ deputy is currently overseeing the office; He is the fifth person to run the county election operation in four years. The turnover is one symptom of a politically divided county. election conspiracy theories Since Republican Donald Trump lost the state Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

The district maintained that it was “focused on running a smooth and fair election.”

George Guthrie, a spokesman for the Registrar of Voters’ office, said in an interview Tuesday before Brown’s medical leave was announced that employees in that office appear to be in good spirits while working hard.

“Election time is action time for us. This is our Superbowl. “It’s the playoffs that matter,” Guthrie said. “Our people are locked in together, working long hours, 12 hours a day, on weekends.”