Byron Macfarlane, a Democrat from Woodstock, is the first to file his candidacy in the 2010 Register of Wills election.

Macfarlane, a member of the Howard County Democratic Central Committee, said if elected he will revamp the Register of Wills' Web site and make the office more visible to the public.

"The infrastructure is already there in the state to do that," he said. "I feel that better educating the public and making the office more visible and accessible are things that I would do differently than were done in the past."

The register's office appoints representatives to manage estates of the deceased and serves as the clerk to the county's Orphans Court.

Macfarlane holds degrees from the University of Baltimore School of Law and the University of Maryland.

He also served as legislative director for then-state Del. Peter Franchot, of Montgomery County, from 2004 to 2006.

"I'm running because I want to take the office to the next level," Macfarlane said. "I have a passion for estate law. It's what I studied in law school. For me it's (about) protecting people."

Incumbent Kay Hartleb, a Republican from Ellicott City, has not filed for re-election, but said she plans to run for a seventh term.

"I love my job and I just want to continue giving the good service my office is famous for," she said.

Hartleb cited technological advancements, including converting paper records to electronic form, as among her administration's accomplishments.

"I think anybody who has dealt with our office will tell you we try to be so helpful and caring in dealing with someone who has recently lost a loved one," she said.

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user comments (2)

user jackdawkins says...

I am an attorney and I practice estates and trusts law. We handle dozens of probate administration cases each year in Howard, Montgomery, and Anne Arundel County, as well as DC and Virginia. I am a life-long indepedent voter, but I almost always vote for a democrat in elections. Howard County has the best Register of Wills office around - PERIOD. I'll be doing everything I can between now and this election to make sure people know what a great job Kay Hartleb does in this office.

Posted 1:39 PM, 12.24.09

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user belovedcartoonmouse says...

It's a shame that candidates for the Register of Wills have to have a political party.

Posted 2:08 PM, 12.24.09

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