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When Joseph Griffin first joined the Montgomery County Register of Wills Office in 1993, 38 employees were sharing one computer.

Now, after three terms as the county's register of wills, there's a computer on every desk, he says.

And, if elected to a fourth term, Griffin, a Democrat, said he would continue to promote secure technology, including a new searchable estate index, as a way to make services more efficient.

Griffin, 45, of Olney is facing Democrats Ronnie L. Jones and Jose M. Linan in the Sept. 14 primary. The winner will run against Republican Socrates Koutsoutis in the Nov. 2 general election.

Attempts to contact Linan were unsuccessful.

The register of wills is an employee of the state at a salary of $98,500 annually.

The office settles the affairs of anyone who dies in Montgomery County, and resolves any disputes among family members about the deceased's assets.

In fiscal 2010, the office returned about $16 million in revenue raised from inheritance taxes and probate fees to the state, keeping about $2.7 million for office expenses, Griffin said.

The office handles an average of 3,600 estates each year, he said.

Griffin said his efforts to modernize the office have allowed citizens to view records on a secure office computer.

"I would like people to be able to access more information from their home or office computers," he said.

Griffin said he also is committed to a mediation program he helped establish in 2004 that allows families to work out their disagreements outside the courtroom.

Jones said he witnessed firsthand the family arguments that can occur when there is a dispute about a will or there is no will.

During the past three years, Jones' mother, aunt and uncle have died, and in each case there was no will.

Growing up in rural North Carolina, Jones said it was common for family members to tell each other they could have certain items when they died. But none of those wishes were ever put in writing, he said.

"I've seen families that were torn apart," he said. "Sisters and brothers not speaking for years because of a piano that was left behind. Neither one of them could play, but each one swears that grandma wanted them to have it."

Jones said his top priority if elected would be to educate the public about the importance of writing a will and to provide free resources to help them do so.

"I would rather they write about it than fight about it," said Jones, a former Washington, D.C., public school teacher.

Jones was laid off in October 2009, but has a pending lawsuit about his dismissal in which he is seeking lost wages.

Jones said he has not written his own will yet, but pledged to do so before the one-year anniversary of his mother's death this month.

The winner of the Democratic primary election will face Koutsoutis, 74, of Silver Spring in November's general election.

Koutsoutis, an investment adviser, said his primary goal is to follow the rules and regulations that he claims Griffin has broken.

Koutsoutis pointed to a state legislative audit released last year that showed Griffin spent $36,000 in three years on a fitness instructor for his employees. The expense was an unacceptable use of taxpayer funds that was not vetted through the state Comptroller's Office, according to the audit.

The office's 40 employees were invited to attend a weekly exercise class led by a paid instructor. The exercise classes were staged after work hours from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The legislative audit, released in October 2009, covers the period from April 11, 2006, to April 16, 2009.

Griffin said he stopped the program after questions were raised.

"I'm glad the audit stopped it," Koutsoutis said of the fitness program.

Koutsoutis vowed to restore fiscal integrity to the Register of Wills Office.

"If elected, I'll follow the rules and regulations from the comptroller," he said.

Joseph M. Griffin

-Residence: Olney

-Age: 45

-Party: Democrat

-Education: Bachelor's of science, business administration, Saint Francis University

-Work experience: Register of wills, 1998-present; deputy register of wills, 1994-98

-Family: Wife, Shirley; three children, Patrick, Michael and Grace

-Top three issues: Increase mediation; maximize use of technology to provide information and assistance; sensitivity training

-Previous political experience: Worked on dozens of campaigns dating back to when he was a teenager, helped on the Blair Lee for gubernatorial campaign; served as a precinct chair in District 14.

-Campaign funds: $5,302

-Other affiliations: Farquhar Middle School PTA president, 2009-present; Board for the Disaster Recovery Initiative, 2008-present; vice president of Register of Wills Association, 2007-present; Board of Advisors for the MD Local Government Investment Pool, 2007-present; president, Maryland Register of Wills Association, 2001-2004; volunteer, Montgomery Hospice 2000-present

-Website: www.votejoegriffin.com

Ronnie L. Jones

-Residence: Silver Spring

-Age: 58

-Party: Democrat

-Education: Bachelor's in elementary education, Bowie State University, 1997

-Work experience: 22-year U.S. Air Force, superintendent of information management. Responsible for the receipt, control, and distribution of top-secret, classified and specially compartmented Information. Thirteen years as an elementary school teacher in both Prince George's County and Washington, D.C., public schools.

-Family: Married with three children and three grandchildren

-Top Three Issues: Education; taxes; health care

-Campaign Funds: None

-Political experience: None

-Other Affiliations: None

-Website: None

Socrates Koutsoutis

-Residence: Silver Spring

-Age: 74

-Party: Republican

-Education: J.D. degree, University of Baltimore; bachelor's degree, American University; ASMT Garfield Memorial Hospital, School of Medical Technology; AA degree, Montgomery College

-Work experience: Potomac Associates Financial Services, financial adviser; SOC Associates, manufacturer's agent; Varian Associates, Eastern regional manager

-Family: Married to Anne Koutsoutis

-Top three issues: To restore fiscal integrity and honesty to the Office of Register of Wills and to the citizens of Montgomery County

-Campaign funds: $1,500

-Political experience: Worked on various presidential and senatorial election campaigns

-Other affiliations: The American Legion, Elks and the AHEPA

-Website: SocratesKoutsoutis.com

ecunningham@gazette.net