Cole County Recorder of Deeds Ralph Bray has announced his intention to run for re-election.
Filing for countywide offices opens Feb. 27. The primary election is in August, and the general election is in November.
Since entering the office in 2015, Bray said, he has overseen the installation of new computer hardware and software upgrades. This includes the ability for customers to go online from their home or office to search Cole County's real estate records.
"We still have computer stations in the office for the public to use, but now customers can view documents without having to come in," he said.
Bray said these upgrades have allowed the office to begin accepting credit cards. He plans to update the recorder's website by adding an online search and e-recording.
The county recorder's office is responsible for recording public documents and preserving them for historical retrieval and legal review. This includes real estate records, marriage licenses, tax liens and discharge papers.