Caroline County Register of Wills Candidate Profile

Candidate Bio
I am a lifelong resident of Caroline County and was raised on my parent’s grain farm near Harmony. I am a graduate of Colonel Richardson High School and went on to earn both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Salisbury University. I am also a proud veteran of the United States Air Force Reserves. I now live with my husband, Brian, and our two daughters, Emma and Anna, on our own little patch of farmland near my parents.

I am currently employed as a certified medical coder where I work with detailed records and strict, ever-changing regulations every day, ensuring my job is done with accuracy and confidentiality. As a former Caroline County special education teacher and assistant, I advocated for students and families, helping them understand important processes during challenging times. And as a current coach for Colonel Richardson’s girls’ soccer and wrestling teams, I’ve built leadership skills and strong relationships throughout our community. I have also served Caroline County for the past nine years on the Agricultural Land Preservation board and as chairman of the board the last four years.

I am running for Register of Wills because I believe this office should be accessible and efficient, yet compassionate. I bring a unique combination of experiences, attention to detail, and genuine care for the people of this county. Families often interact with this office during some of the most difficult moments in their lives, and they deserve clear guidance and communication, respect, and professionalism.

How does the office that you are seeking serve citizens in Caroline County?
Essentially, the office guides the probate process, opening wills and estates and appointing personal representatives, and making sure that everything is followed under the law. But I think one of the biggest things about this office is the personal connections that you make with the people you are dealing with. Everybody is coming to you in a state of grief of some kind, and you want to be professional yet compassionate and just be able to guide them through all the processes.

Basically, I just want to make sure that people feel supported while being expedient and efficient in getting everything opened and closed and taken care of, which is one less thing that they have to worry about as they deal with the grief process.

I would really like to institute some kind of education program, even if it's a monthly brochure or something that's on a website. I think it would be beneficial to the county.

If your office budget has significant budget cuts, how do you imagine you will handle this?
The Caroline County Register of Wills actually falls under the state budget. It's not put under the confines of the Caroline County budget. And actually, it doesn't really fall under the state budget either, because everything the office runs off of – all of the fees and inheritance taxes and everything that the county takes in – doesn't really have the constraints that other offices in Caroline County have when it comes to budget, and it's probably a good thing. It is literally its own entity, even though they are state employees.

Your office is a state office serving Caroline County residents. How will you manage local needs with state requirements?
I feel like they actually dovetail together really well. You can't have one without the other. The state has laws in place and rules and regulations to ensure that things are running smoothly, that everybody is basically doing everything on the same page. But I feel like at the county level, you're serving the people. It's not so much about paperwork at the county level, it's dealing with people's needs and feelings and doing it with compassion and straightforwardness. You want clear communication. You want people to feel supported and heard, and you want to be approachable. You want to be there while following state regulations.

You've got to know the people you are serving and understand their emotional states, and they may not be ready to go through all of the paperwork at that time. You know it needs to be done, and they may not be at that point yet, but they want to start the process. Sometimes, (they need) somebody that listens but can still guide them down the correct process. I want to be more than just a signature on a piece of paper to the people that I am helping. I want to actually be present and accessible, and I think everybody should feel comfortable coming in.