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Ann Hale is emphasizing administrative experience and continuity as she runs for Hamblen County Register of Deeds, saying her goal is to maintain the high standard already established within the office.

She said her background, a career working in administrative roles, has prepared her to lead the office effectively.

“I have been involved administratively in offices all of my life,” Hale said. “The attributes of a good leader, from an administrative perspective, I feel, are accuracy, integrity and accountability. In some cases, it’s also confidentiality. It’s maintaining, it is not changing things that aren’t broken.

“In this position, this office has run like a well-oiled machine for many, many years — 30 plus years, actually. It’s never had any deficiencies and it’s been audited for many years. I’m very proud of that for this community.

“I want to maintain that same integrity. I want to give kudos to the staff. I’d like to ask the staff if I were elected to please stay, and please maintain that integrity to this position. The register of Deeds office is one of the most important responsibilities in county government. Every deed recorded, every document filed, every record preserved represents your property, your family, and your future.”

Hale continued to emphasize how well run the office has been run and her intent to continue that tradition of excellence.

Educating the public about the Register’s office and the options they have to engage in fraud prevention is important to Hale.

““There is a new initiative that’s happening about that,” she said. “There are seminars and classes that are going on right now.”

Hale said she would take an active role in expanding those efforts locally.

“I feel every community needs to be involved in the education of any property owner,” she said.

Complimenting the staff at the office, Hale said she was ready to roll up her sleeves and get in the trenches to get things done.

She emphasized that leading by example is something she has always done.

“I’ve never asked an employee to do something that I wouldn’t do myself,” she said. “I’m not going to be an employer that would sit in an office and not jump in and help.

“(My goal is) to help and assist the staff, any and every way possible, to make sure they have the tools, the help, and the guidance they need to do the job efficiently.”

Her overall approach, she said, is to continue the office’s current trajectory while addressing any issues as they arise.

“We can fix anything that’s gone astray,” Hale said. “The people of Hamblen County deserves leadership that’s trustworthy, polished and prepared from day one.”