Dilworth and Gutekunst run for register of probate

Photo:

Carol Gutekunst (D-Norway)

Photo:

Jennifer Dilworth (R-Norway)

COUNTY — Carol Gutekunst (D-Norway) and Jennifer Dilworth (R-Norway) are running for Oxford County Register of Probate.

The current register, Bruce Rood, is not seeking reelection to the part-time position.

The probate court has jurisdiction over estates, trusts, adoptions, name changes, guardianship and conservationship proceedings, according to its website.

The register of probate is a quasi-judicial position within the court, responsible for preparing and recording court records.

Gutekunst

Gutekunst worked in the probate office for more than 20 years, beginning in 1987. She was appointed deputy register in 1994 and worked in the office until retiring in 2008.

She chose to come out of retirement and return to work for the county after receiving encouragement to run for the position, Gutekunst says.

She believes her considerable experience in the probate office will be a benefit to the county. With her background in probate, Gutekunst says that if she was going into a job interview situation, rather than running for an elected position, her experience would make her a shoe-in for the job.

 Dilworth

Dilworth says she is running both to offer service to the community and as a personal challenge.

She says she finds the position to be really interesting and her decision to run for the job “came on a whim.”

Dilworth, who owned the Cattails store in Norway before selling it in 2006, says that she can translate her experience in customer service to the position and hopes to “bring little more of a human touch to the job.”

Although she does not have any prior experience in probate work, Dilworth says she will bring her skills and attention to detail to the position.