Swanson
Stephanie L. Swanson wants to be Cherokee County’s next Register of Deeds, which “keeps records of land deeds, marriage certificates and both birth and death records,” she said.
Swanson, a native of Murphy, feels her experience in leadership working 17 years for the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office qualifies her to take on the position. “Technically speaking, the only qualification to run is to be a North Carolina, Cherokee County, resident,” she said with a laugh.
Swanson feels the needs of the Register of Deed’s office are more refined.
“The Register of Deeds needs to examine the status quo,” she said. “I’m not afraid to go to the commissioners or finance office.”
Swanson believes her discipline, something she fostered through a lifetime of ballet dancing, is key. Perhaps after dancing in front of audiences across the state, presenting an agenda to the county commissioners loses its fear factor.
Full of lively energy, Swanson believes modernizing the office is the most pressing issue. “Modernization needs to be done,” she added, “and I have the skills required to bring the office up to date.”
Swanson’s works as the victim’s advocate with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, which she said taught her how to navigate through bureaucracy.
She lists areas that she feels need updating, including extending the office’s open hours to make them more convenient to the public, especially professionals. “We have surveyors, real estate agents and paralegals needing access to the office,” Swanson said.
She has her sights set on other high-priority items as well. “We don’t have a credit card reader,” Swanson said. “Every single day people have to go to the ATM to get cash.”
Another area she has her eyes on is the antiquated filing system. She said there are so many documents stored on paper that will eventually deteriorate.
Swanson wants to digitalize the files so they are archived securely. The deed’s office is a history holder, and she feels the certificates and deeds need to be cared for with a longer-reaching vision in mind.
Swanson spends free time hiking with her husband of 10 years, Chris, or playing with Cali, her calico cat, and her Norwegian Elk hound, Epsen.