Two candidates are vying for the Warren County recorder of deeds position, a new full-time position that will be decided by voters in the Nov. 2 general election.  Republican Deborah Engemann and Democrat Michelle Walch are seeking to become the first full-time recorder, a position created when the county commission made a decision to separate the duties from the circuit clerk. Last November, the county commission felt the timing was right to provide a full-time position for the recorder due to the heavier workload in the circuit clerk’s office and to reduce the need for one person to run both departments once the new administration building opens. The current recorder is Jerri Jordan, who lost a bid to win a fourth term as circuit clerk in the August primary election. Engemann and Walch won their races in the primary election which had a field of five candidates. The recorder is responsible for filing numerous documents, including real estate transactions, land transfers, divorces and marriage licenses. The annual salary for the recorder has been set at $49,500, the same salary received by the county clerk, collector, assessor and treasurer. Engemann says she has the background to fill the role. She is currently the chief deputy recorder and has worked for the county for 11 years. Prior to that, she worked 23 years as an abstractor for Guardian Title. Her experience could be handy, Engemann said, since the office currently has only two full-time employees including herself. It’s unknown if the county budget will allow any more employees will be added in the future. “I have the day-to-day experience,” Engemann said. “I understand what the documents are. I know how to input the data and make it accessible for the public.” Walch, meanwhile, said she would rely on her past management experience. She is currently the health service coordinator for North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC), a position she’s held for the past 10 years. She said she is used to working with the public and oversees a budget topping $300,000. Her earlier work experience includes being a workers’ compensation underwriter for Traveler’s Insurance, a position she held for nine years when living in Florida. Walch said the job allowed her to learn and understand state statutes. She said she is eager to take on a new challenge“I’m a quick learner and I like to learn new things,” Walch said. “That drives me.”If elected, one of Walch’s priorities would be have more county documents accessible on the Internet and evolve with the latest technology. “That is important,” she said. “As a resident, if there was something I wanted to copy, I should be able to do that from home. That is better service.”Engemann said some services are available online, but it is subscription-based. She said one of her future goals, if elected, is to eventually have plats scanned for public use. The new elected recorder will take office Jan. 1, 2011.