Request for new office becomes register's race issue

In the election for the register of deeds, Republican incumbent Pam Hurst's push for a new office is shaping up as an issue in the race.

Jeff Brown, the local Democratic Party chairman who also is running for the post, criticized Ms. Hurst's request for $400,000 for the new building during county budget hearings. The office would pay for the building using money from a data-processing fee, Ms. Hurst said.

"I believe that's money not well spent, particularly at this point and time," Mr. Brown said last week. "There's certainly not enough money to go around for a whole host of things."

At the budget hearing, County Commissioner John Allen Brooks said he does not think Ms. Hurst needs the new building. Mayor Claude Ramsey said if the register is going to have a satellite office it makes sense to build a new one.

Mr. Brown also criticized the local legislation allowing Ms. Hurst's office to use processing fees to pay for the new building.

Ms. Hurst, who was elected register in 1994 and is running for her fifth term, said the legislation was "the right thing to do" and some other register's offices in the state also asked to be included in the legislation.

Currently, the register has a satellite office in Bonny Oaks near the county assessor's office and the county trustee's office. Ms. Hurst said those services complement the services the register provides. The register records deeds and other legal documents.

REGISTER DUTIES The chief duty of the county register's office is to record deeds and other documents required or allowed to be filed by state law. Such documents include deeds, powers of attorney, mortgages, marriage settlements, plats, military discharges, etc. The register also is responsible for collecting and accounting for all fees and taxes due as allowed by law.Source: www.hamiltontn.gov

Ms. Hurst said the need for a new building is the only issue in the race. She said the building would save the taxpayer's money because the county no longer would have to rent the satellite office.

"I don't even think it's an issue," she said. "I think it's a Jeff Brown issue."

Mr. Brown said he thinks if the county register's office has to have a satellite it should be in an existing county building, like the recently acquired McDaniel Building at 455 N. Highland Park Ave. The $5.9 million former nursing home was donated to the county by Life Care Centers of America late last year.

"Mayor Ramsey was relocating over there while his office was being renovated," Mr. Brown said. "My thought was if its good enough for the mayor's office it would be good enough to house the satellite."

Ms. Hurst said Mr. Brown's suggestion "shows he doesn't understand our office," saying it would send people out of their way to record documents.

The register of deeds position pays about $101,000 a year, according to budget documents.

The election is Aug. 5.

Continue reading by following these links to related stories:

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Article: Bill could lead to new register office

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