Candidate Profile: Debra Gunter, Lexington County Register of Deeds

In the race for Lexington County Register of Deeds, GOP incumbent Debra Gunter will try to fend off a rare challenge by newcomer .

The Lexington County Register of Deeds (ROD) office is a recording and public service office. The primary function of the ROD office is to record, maintain and preserve all land records for the County and make them readily available for public viewing. 

All recording of documents must be in accordance with South Carolina laws and County ordinances. Documents recorded by the ROD office include deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, powers of attorney, mechanic’s liens, tax liens, plats, uniform commercial code filings and other real property transactions.

The ROD office also assists the public with inquiries concerning land records.

Name: Debra M. "Debbie" Gunter        

Age: 60

Occupation: Lexington County Register of Deeds

Years in Office: 15

Prior experience (political/civil/etc): Real Estate Title Abstractor 13 years; familiar with ROD offices across the state

Family: married to Johnny Gunter for 28 years; we have 4 children and 6 grandchildren between us

Education: attended Thomas Jefferson High School, Louisville, KY for most of my high school career; graduated from Williamsville North High School, Williamsville NY; attended one year at Genessee Community College, Batavia N.Y.

Campaign website: None

Why are you seeking re-election?

It has been an honor to serve in this capacity and I feel there is more I can do to improve this office with another term.

What makes you the best person for the job?

My 15 years of experience makes me the best qualified person for this job. I have, since being elected in 1997, implemented technology to reduce budget expenditures and was one of the first Registers to make records available over the Internet for convenience to users. I have also established a relationship with County Council and County Administration that would reveal that I am a team player and am working for the betterment of Lexington County and its citizens. 

Explain the importance of the Register of Deeds position to county residents:

The Register of Deeds is responsible for all of the land records for Lexington County. This includes recording, maintaining and preserving these records and insuring they are readily avialable for public viewing. The Register is also responsible for a very large budget.

It will be imperative that a qualified and proven professional be elected to oversee this budget and the expenditures. Further, the Register of Deeds collects a considerable amount of funds for the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

It is of the utmost urgency that the overseer of these funds turns these funds over to the proper State Department or penalties could be incurred. Only an experienced professional should be trusted to insure the laws of this state are complied with.

What areas of the office will you seek to focus on and what do you hope to accomplish in your term?

More scanning of records; upgrade technology to keep current with changes.

What should the Register of Deeds do in the next term to improve efficiency?

Continue to monitor changes in technology to improve services and reduce budget expenditures.

What do you think should be done in order to serve clients better?

We receive countless comments from citizens about their good experiences when visiting the Register of Deeds office. The staff has been trained, coached and counseled to deliver the best customer service possible. We strive on a daily basis to be the best at what we do — serving Lexington County's citizens.

Are there any other comments you'd like to make or would like to discuss something not raised in our questions?

N/A