Three community leaders were re-elected to their public offices during Tuesday’s general election, building on their public service careers that has collectively spanned nearly six decades.
Barb McDonald was elected to a third term as the Logan County Clerk of Courts. She has served Logan County since 1995 in a career that first began in the common pleas court as a bailiff for former Judge Mark S. O’Connor.
She was first elected to public office in 2012, taking over her then-outgoing clerk of courts Dottie Tuttle. McDonald said in a previous Examiner story this will be her final term as clerk of courts, and does not plan to run again in 2024.
It’s been an unconventional tenure for the long-time public servant. Near the beginning of career as an elected official, the clerk of courts office was among those county agencies displaced as a result of the damage sustained to the Logan County Courthouse. Now, the office McDonald oversees is among those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve had some challenges since I took office that have been out of our control, but no matter the situation, this office has been committed to providing the best possible service to our community,” McDonald said.
Like McDonald, Logan County Treasurer Rhonda Stafford and Logan County Recorder Pat Myers — each of whom were re-elected in unopposed races Tuesday — assumed their political offices following the retirement, and with the endorsement of, their predecessor.
Myers said she began working at the Logan County Recorder’s Office in February 2003, and then was named the Logan County Recorder in December 2013 upon the retirement of Linda Hanson. She has now been elected for her third term.
The county recorder’s office is charged with keeping and maintaining accurate land records that are current, legible and easily accessible, Myers related. An important aspect of the recorder’s work is indexing each document so it may be readily located.
Accurate indexing makes it possible for individuals searching land records to find the documents necessary to establish a “chain of title” (history of ownership) and ensures that any debts or encumbrances against the property are evident. These invaluable records are utilized by the general public, attorneys, historians, genealogists and land title examiners.
“I’m very much detail-oriented person, so this is the perfect job for me,” Myers said. “Some people might think that this job could be a little monotonous, but each document is a little bit different, and that keeps it interesting.
“There’s always things to do and something to keep us busy. We work closely with the map room and the auditor’s office. Once the auditor approves the legal description of the land record, we record it. We recently have been averaging between 55 to 60 documents a day.”
During Myers’ time at the recorder’s office, new and improved computer systems have been implemented, but there are still typewriters in regular use for typing in the “big books” — the abstract books that house all of the real estate records for the county, she related. A computerized land record index also began May 1, 1985.
Stafford has spent the last 15 years working in the Logan County Treasurer’s Office, previously serving as chief deputy for the treasurer. She assumed her current role Oct. 28, 2019, through appointment by the Logan County Republican Central Committee to finish Dara Wren’s term. This is Stafford’s first time appearing on the ballot for the position.
The county treasurer’s major responsibility is the collection of various taxes, with the most noted and largest dollar amounts collected in the form of real estate taxes. Other taxes collected by the county treasurer include mobile home, motel-hotel and special assessments.
“The county treasurer is the collector and safe-keeper of all taxes collected in taxing districts such as schools, cities, townships and villages,” said Stafford, a Benjamin Logan High School graduate who previously served as a Belletech Corporation administrative assistant.
“As the tax collector for these various districts, the county treasurer must efficiently and effectively account for all monies collected in these districts in a timely manner. The faster the tax dollars can be accounted for, the faster the taxing district can receive their income from the tax monies collected. The taxing districts operate from the dollars collected by the county treasurer.”
The county treasurer also invests funds for various periods of time that earn money for the county’s general operating fund. Stafford said these investments must be carefully monitored and maintained to ensure enough monies are readily available to pay current day-to-day operating expenses. Investment income collected in the 2019 calendar year totaled $756,614.43, she said.
As the county clerk of courts, McDonald and her staff are responsible for handing correspondence issued by the Logan County Common Pleas Court. Responsibilities for the clerk of courts are referenced in over 250 sections of the Ohio Revised Code.
Providing a personal service to their customers and making sure needs are being met is an aspect of their positions that the office holders said is especially rewarding.
“I love working with the public and making sure that every person has that ‘hometown feel,’” Stafford said. “In a smaller town like this, as opposed to a large city, we’re able to make sure that everyone has that one-on-one experience and that they receive the help that they need.”
“I have a staff of three people and it’s a great group to work with,” Myers said. “We love the work we do with the public as well. We’ve also built up a good rapport with the attorneys in the area. We work hand-in-hand with them on a regular basis.”