Westmoreland Recorder of Deeds candidates ready for rematch

Voters might experience déjà vu Tuesday when choosing the Westmoreland County Recorder of Deeds.

Incumbent Democrat Tom Murphy and Republican Frank Schiefer are familiar opponents.

In 2011, Schiefer ousted Murphy, who was then a three-term incumbent. Four years later, they faced off again, with Murphy prevailing.

Now they’re going for the tiebreaker to see who runs the office oversees county property records. It is funded through fees associated with its services, not tax dollars.

Murphy said he believes he has the support of the people who regularly use the office.

“They know it’s in good hands and know that I understand every aspect of what’s going on,” he said. “I literally put that system in.”

He points to the work he has done to modernize the office over the years, including creating an electronic notarization system and preparing for the extra demand placed on the office by the natural gas industry.

“I’ve always been a year or two ahead of everything,” he said.

Murphy said he will continue to be forward-thinking if reelected.

“Technology changes so fast,” he said. “I’m trying to stay ahead of the curve, and I’m trying to do more with less.”

He credits the hard work of the office staff in implementing improvements.

“This does not happen by myself,” he said.

Murphy believes his experience gives him the edge over Schiefer.

“I have much more knowledge and much more experience, and people have confidence in me and my staff,” he said.

Schiefer said he made several important improvements to the office in his single term and wants to continue to innovate.

“I’m trying to treat the office like it’s the people’s office,” he said.

When he was recorder, the office was open late some nights. If elected, he hopes to restore evening hours at least one night a week.

“I think the courthouse needs to be accessible to the everyday person. And for most people, 8:30 to 4 doesn’t always work,” he said.

In his last term, Schiefer said he stepped up efforts to record veterans’ discharge papers.

“I’ve worked hard to move this office forward,” he said. “I’m the person with the consistent record of fiscal responsibility, customer service and professionalism.”

Changing political tides could mean the county is once again ready for a Republican recorder, he said.

“Certainly in the era of Trump, the landscape of the county has changed,” he said. “For the first time since the 1930s, there are more Republicans than Democrats registered (in Westmoreland County).”

Current figures show that out of 236,648 registered voters in the county, Republicans outnumber Democrats 105,878 to 102,690.