SKOWHEGAN — Veteran Somerset County Registrar of Deeds Diane Godin is being challenged in the Nov. 4 election by the county’s deputy registrar, Laura Price. The term of office is four years.
First employed at the registry as a clerk in 1997 and named deputy registrar in 2000, Godin was appointed registrar of deeds by Gov. Angus King in 2001. She replaced Marguerite Libby, who retired in April 2001 after 20 years in office. Godin was first elected in her own right in 2002.
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Godin, 52, of Madison, said she is no stranger to being challenged in elections, having defeated opponents in 2002, 2006 and again in 2010.
Godin said she was at the helm at the registry when document files were all transferred to digital and made available online, making her qualified for re-election. The registrar is responsible for putting on record for public notice any document concerning real estate in Somerset County, she said. Godin said the Registry of Deeds is one of the few county departments that actually generates money for the county. Her current salary, which is negotiated annually with county commissioners, is about $41,000, she said.
Godin, who is married and has two grown daughters and a granddaughter, said an election win is never guaranteed.
“I don’t think anybody is ever assured anything in a county race,” she said. “Not that many people vote, really, for the county offices, so it’s a little difficult to be assured of anything.”
Price, 56, of Canaan, said she completed her community office practice, a form of job shadowing, at the registry as part of her business administration classes at Skowhegan Area High School, where she graduated in 1976. She worked in the county treasurer’s office after graduating and for the past four years has served as deputy county treasurer under Treasurer Tracey Rotondi, who is seeking re-election Nov. 4 unopposed on the ballot.
Price, who is married and has one grown daughter, said serving as deputy registrar for the past 13 years has prepared her to take over the top spot at the Registry of Deeds.
“I want to be more committed to the job and to be able to help people,” she said. “I’ve been there since 2000, and I feel I am qualified for the job.”
Doug Harlow — 612-2367
Twitter: @Doug_Harlow
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