Recorder: Candidates tout experience, vow to update office

10/30/2004

Perz

Both candidates for Lucas County recorder have pledged to update the way business is run on the seventh floor of One Government Center and to make the office more visible to residents.

But how Democrat Anita Lopez and Republican Melanie Perz plan to accomplish these goals and the strengths they would bring to the office differ greatly.

The position is being vacated by incumbent Democrat Sue Rioux, who is retiring.

Ms. Lopez, 35, points to her law degree and knowledge of the Ohio Revised Code as key components of her campaign. Ms. Perz, 34, is a licensed Realtor, a profession that often deals with the recorder's office.

The recorder's responsibilities include indexing, recording, and maintaining land records and other documents such as mortgages, liens, leases, uniform commercial code filings, military discharges, and surety bonds.

The recorder is paid $63,195 and oversees a budget of more than $820,000.

Ms. Lopez, an attorney and member of the Toledo Board of Education, said her knowledge of the law will ensure that the recorder's office accepts only those documents it is legally required to file and that each document is properly and legally completed.

"A recorder needs to understand the law, apply the law, and give staff direction to comply with the law," the mother of two said.

Ms. Lopez said her goals for the office include creating an advisory board of residents, business members, and members of the military to provide advice to the office, and creating a means of open communication with taxpayers.

She said she plans to foster cooperation between the recorder's office and the auditor's office and to upgrade technology.

Ms. Perz, who works with Welles Bowen Realtors, stresses her 12 years of business experience.

She said she would work to create a business plan for the office, establish consistency in service, and update the technology used by the office. Her vision, she said, is to ensure documents can be recorded and accessed "quickly, accurately, and with ease."

Contact Erica Blake at:

eblake@theblade.com

or 419-724-6076.