Candidate Q&A: Sally Reynolds, Register of Deeds for Livingston County

Brighton and Hartland Patch has sent out a survey to candidates running for office to represent Hartland. The following is the Q&A response from , Register of Deeds for Livingston County who is running for re-election.

Patch: How long have you lived in Livingston County? 

Reynolds: I was born and raised in Livingston County within three miles of where I now reside. 

Patch: What community and civic organizations are you currently involved in? 

Reynolds:

• President of Kiwanis Club of Howell, 
• Participant in the annual OLHSA Walk for Warmth event
• Big Brother/Big Sister
• Howell Area Chamber of Commerce
• Livingston County Republican Party 
• Livingston County Repubublican Women's Club 
• Sunday School Teacher at my church since 1983

Patch: What personal and professional experiences make you qualified to hold that position?

Reynolds: I have been employed at the Register of Deeds Office since 1979.  I have held every position within the office, being promoted by the previous Registrar Nancy Haviland. She was a great boss to work for and with in my career. She taught me the importance of the permanent land records being accurate and indexed in a searchable database. 

Some of my personal characteristics, such as an eye for detail, consistency in tedious repetitive work and treating people with respect and care have only enhanced my ability to serve the residents of this county. 

Patch: What is the most important issue facing the county related to your position and what do you intend to do about it during your term in office?

Reynolds: Cutting overall costs, while maintaining the efficient and courteous service I have developed since being elected 8 years ago.  

By using technology, I plan to eliminate duplicate entry by various departments using the same data, continue to enhance services as newer technology develops. Continuing the ongoing project to restore and preserve the historic land tract books is a priority since they are permanent land records being used on a daily basis.

During my first two terms, I have implemented software in the office which has provided the documents to be recorded within minutes, available online the same day, to be filed electronically, records available for use by other county departments and the local units, and a property fraud alert program which is free to the landowners. 

I have implemented these changes to increase efficiency for title companies, lenders, realtors, local units, surveyors, as well as the landowners, whose records are kept in the office.  Though the software is currently set up to receive electronic filings from trusted submitters, which will benefit the title companies, I am hesitant to do so because it will cost the landowner an additional 'per document fee'. 

I am not convinced that it will 'insure originals' being submitted for recording rather than copies, and also harder to catch fraudulent robo-signed documents, since only one page at a time can be viewed by the staff here at the Register of Deeds Office. It also requires additional accounting procedures for the office.  I feel all parties should benefit from changes and improvements to the office, not just one or two. 

The changes implemented and embraced by me for the last 8 years have been a benefit to all.