ELECTION 2020: Incumbent Judy Nedwick stresses advancements, challenger Mike Doran seeks innovation in Lorain County recorder race

Mike Doran, 36 Party: Republican Education: ITT Tech - (Computers and Electronics Engineering Technology) Family: Wife, Christina, and five children ages 3 to 17 Job history: Self-employed Website: mikedoran.com Judy Nedwick, 77 Party: Democrat Education: Graduate of Elyria Catholic High School in 1961; Continuing Education for the Ohio Recorder's Association annually Family: My late husband, Sonny, and I raised two children, Jeff, who is employed as a state auditor, and Jennifer, who is a licensed social worker. Four grandchildren. Job history: Began career with Lorain County Auditor's Office in 1984 and, after 20 years with the auditor, appointed recorder in 2003. Re-elected as recorder in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016. The Lorain County recorder race will be decided between incumbent Democrat Judy Nedwick, who has held the position since 2003, and Republican challenger Mike Doran. What makes you the best candidate for the position? Doran: I bring a fresh new look to the Recorder's Office. I will not only bring my knowledge of cybersecurity, but also expand online historical document searches while maintaining secure systems. I have also been working with other county recorders throughout the state to provide our property owners with a much needed property fraud alert system. Since 2003, our Recorder's Office has slowly been becoming more a part of the Auditor's Office. While these offices are to work together, they should maintain their separate identities. Nedwick: My experience in the Auditor's Office and as recorder have provided me with the knowledge and expertise to continue to serve as the most qualified person for Lorain County Recorder. My working relationship with the Auditor, Treasurer, Veterans' Services, Probate, and other county offices allows me to achieve the best outcome for residents by working together to provide solutions and services. My involvement with the Ohio Recorders' Association and IAGO allows me to work with other county and state officials to ensure that our office continues to remain technologically advanced and current with ever changing legislative initiatives. What is the biggest challenge facing Lorain County and how would you address it? Doran: The biggest challenge facing Lorain County is a lack of experience and knowledge in the County IT departments. This can be seen in multiple areas, the most notable examples being the malware attack at the Recorder's Office in late 2019, as well as the multiple outages at 911. This can be fixed by hiring individuals with proper training and experience in the systems we are putting in place. These are lifeline systems, which should be installed with multiple levels of redundancy. That does not yet seem to be the case. Nedwick: At this time, the biggest challenge facing everyone is providing business services during the COVID-19 pandemic, while balancing the safety of our community and employees. We have operated at full capacity and maintained continuity of all services to the public and land professionals throughout the pandemic by making necessary adjustments to the work environment. Our online search site is available 24/7 to accommodate title examiners and the public. Our advanced computer system provides for transactions in real time on our search site, and our exceptional e-recording process, which has provided a convenient alternative for doing business during the pandemic. — Dylan Reynolds