By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@Salisburypost
Bobbie Earnhardt has decided to call it quits as the Rowan County Register of Deeds.
Earnhardt’s resignation is effective Dec. 1, though she plans to leave the office by Thanksgiving. She is recommending that John Brindle, a current employee and former deputy sheriff, be named to succeed her.
Earnhardt has worked in the Register of Deeds office since 1985 and has served as the Register of Deeds since 1992. She is currently the longest-serving Democratic officeholder in Rowan County.
She submitted her resignation to the Rowan County Democratic Executive Committee at a meeting last week.
Under state law, the executive committee of the political party from which the register of deeds was elected has 30 days to submit the name of the successor to the Board of Commissioners.
In this case, the Rowan County Democratic Executive Committee will select the person to serve the remainder of Earnhardt’s term, which ends in December 2010.
The Rowan County Board of Commissioners is required by state law to appoint the person selected by the Democratic Executive Committee.
Genoal Russell, chairman of the local Democratic Party, said the executive committee will consider any registered Democrat who wants the job.
The committee will meet Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. in the Cohen Administration Building, 130 W. Innes St.
Brindle, 36, of Gold Hill, has worked in the Register of Deeds office for four years.
Previously he worked for the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. Hired by Sheriff Bob Martin, he worked in the Detention Center and later as a resource officer at Mount Ulla Elementary, West Middle, Erwin Middle, South and East Rowan High Schools.
During his tenure at the Sheriff’s Office, Brindle was twice named Deputy of the Year.
A native of Tampa, Fla., Brindle has lived in Rowan County for 20 years.
He and his wife, Karen, have three children. She is a sergeant in the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.
Brindle said Wednesday, he hopes to have the opportunity and is looking forward to the job.
The Register of Deeds office has 12 employees including the register.
In her letter of resignation, Earnhardt cited the many workshops and training sessions that Brindle has completed in recommending him.
“He is very qualified to run the Register of Deeds office,” Earnhardt wrote. “Also, he is very personable and never meets a stranger. I believe these traits will make him electable to the office of Register of Deeds as your Democratic candidate in 2010.”
Earnhardt began work in the Register of Deeds office on May 20, 1985.
In January 1992, Earnhardt was appointed register following the retirement of Jean Kirk Ramsey, who was elected six times.
In her letter, Earnhardt went on to thank Democrats for their support over the past 16 years, saying, “I am ready to begin the next phase of my life.”
Earnhardt was not available for comment Wednesday. She and her husband, Oren, are on a hunting trip in New Mexico.