BATH — With Barbara Trott stepping down as Sagadahoc County registrar of deeds, Judith Stevens of Woolwich and Jennifer DeChant of Bath are running for the four-year office.

Jennifer DeChant

DeChant, 42, is married and has two children. She was chairwoman of the Sagadahoc County Democrats from 2000-2004 and has also served as treasurer of the Maine Democratic Party. She was a member of the Democratic National Committee from 2004-2008 and was one of Maine’s eight Democratic superdelegates in 2008.

“I believe in, and am an advocate for, county government, and the role that county government can play in the whole budgeting process and helping to alleviate taxes on the local level,” DeChant said.

She called the registrar’s office “a nice match with my skills,” and said she is highly organized and eager to take on the challenges involved with offering a deeds system that can be accessed online and in person.

DeChant said she intends to provide high-quality customer service at the deeds office.

DeChant has worked as a marketing coordinator with Coastal Enterprises in Wiscasset and as a public service manager with the Maine Department of Economic Development. She also served as a legislative aide in the House speaker and House majority offices. She additionally worked in the marketing communications field with Five County Credit Union.

She recently served most of a term on the Bath Planning Board, is a board member of Studio Theatre of Bath and Maine Rural Partners. She also is a member on the Cosmopolitan Club in Bath.

Judith Stevens

Stevens, 57,  and her husband have five children and 11 grandchildren. She was born in Bath but grew up out of state, and has been back in the county since 1970.

Stevens served as Sagadahoc County deputy treasurer from 1994-2006, and during that time was treasurer for the county’s Local Emergency Planning Committee. Prior to that she was Woolwich’s treasurer and tax collector from 1988-1994.

After her time with the county Stevens worked as an accounts clerk for the town of Brunswick, and served a similar role with the Brunswick Sewer District.

“In different positions that I’ve had in the past I’ve worked with the registry of deeds in Sagadahoc, Lincoln and Cumberland (counties),” she said. “So I was familiar with what they did.”

An avid genealogist, Stevens said she has done title and mortgage searches, and that she knows the registry’s office and staff.

“It just felt right (to run),” she said.

Alex Lear can be reached at 373-9060 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net.

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Jennifer DeChant

Judith Stevens

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