Many thanks to the Northern Grafton Democrats for this opportunity. My name is Kelley Jean Monahan and I identify as an American. I refuse to disrespect the struggles of my parents, their parents, their parents and their parents to win sympathy or votes. Their combined experiences including my 64 years on this planet and the 14 years of on the job training that the taxpayer of Grafton County has invested in me make me a very valuable resource I call it a PHD in the school of hard knocks. I use that PHD every day to help the people of this county, the property owners in Grafton County and all who own interest in property or are interested in investing here.
This important office which I have faithfully served for 14 years represents a cornerstone of our American economy. During COVID as essential workers, the silent engines of the Registries across our country were busy at work never missing a day of recording critical documents to the official public record. Over 18 billion dollars was injected into the economy by our property owners who refinanced their mortgages during that first year at low interest rates to survive a global pandemic. In my 7 terms of service, we have never carried over daily work, if a document conforms it goes to record that day. We have never had adverse findings on any of the annual audits performed by county auditors or NH DRA auditors. My team and I collect on average 17 million dollars per year in shared revenue. I have guided this office through the implementation of new recording and search programs, the introduction of computerized banking, e-recording and electronic signature legislation and a pandemic as people from other areas of our country sought out a new life in rural New Hampshire.
On multiple occasions I testified in the House to protect this branch of local government from legislative privatization efforts. This past September a member of our own Delegation filed a legislative service request with the House of Representatives for a Constitutional Amendment to eliminate the New Hampshire Registries of Deeds from existence. The LSR was quietly withdrawn, and the Representative refused to discuss his intentions with me or my affiliate. I have served as Secretary, Vice President and President of the NH Register of Deeds Association and am currently the second longest serving member. During the past two years I have served on the Legislative Committee and acted as liaison to NH Planning Office of Strategic Initiatives and the New Hampshire Land Surveyors Association. I have been a speaker at the NHLSA Annual Meeting for the past two years reducing conflict by listening and informing.
For the past three years I have focused on three major restoration projects that followed the exact directive for ARPA which was reduction of risk for public health and public employee health. First outsourcing to US Imaging our last scanning project which digitized our gap years of 1890 -1930. All images dating back to 1774 are now available on the web at our official website at NHdeeds.org. I have secured two full sets of microfilm of all records in the event of an internet failure or electronic grid disruption we can continue to search records and provide copies using our new micro-film reader and generator power. The last project was the restoration of all our historic plan books. These have now been flattened and restored, re-digitized for a crisp image and encased in mylar.
When I first took office I recognized that it would require a lioness to be the gatekeeper for these records and I have not been wrong. I have held a mirror to peoples’ behavior, people who have never been held accountable for their actions. For this I have been met with lies, gaslighting and hostile behavior. I do not believe that local government should be run as a family business. I am determined to finish the work that I started and have the fortitude to finish the job. My team and I love what we do every day. Our world is getting more complicated, and people come to us for direction. We listen, empathize, empower and redirect. We do not practice law, but we can recognize when someone needs legal assistance. Our 3 phone lines are answered on the first ring by a live, friendly, and knowledgeable team member.
In July we broke a record on revenue collection in one month, my team and I processed over 2 million dollars in shared revenue in the month of July and August will be close to 1.5 million. Grafton County is booming and I lead the office that processes these documents and collect and redistribute the taxes. Stability is required for these processes to continue as seamlessly as they are. The only question to the Democratic primary voter should be about competency and stability. I respectfully request the confidence of your vote on September 10, 2024.
Thank you.
This important office which I have faithfully served for 14 years represents a cornerstone of our American economy. During COVID as essential workers, the silent engines of the Registries across our country were busy at work never missing a day of recording critical documents to the official public record. Over 18 billion dollars was injected into the economy by our property owners who refinanced their mortgages during that first year at low interest rates to survive a global pandemic. In my 7 terms of service, we have never carried over daily work, if a document conforms it goes to record that day. We have never had adverse findings on any of the annual audits performed by county auditors or NH DRA auditors. My team and I collect on average 17 million dollars per year in shared revenue. I have guided this office through the implementation of new recording and search programs, the introduction of computerized banking, e-recording and electronic signature legislation and a pandemic as people from other areas of our country sought out a new life in rural New Hampshire.
On multiple occasions I testified in the House to protect this branch of local government from legislative privatization efforts. This past September a member of our own Delegation filed a legislative service request with the House of Representatives for a Constitutional Amendment to eliminate the New Hampshire Registries of Deeds from existence. The LSR was quietly withdrawn, and the Representative refused to discuss his intentions with me or my affiliate. I have served as Secretary, Vice President and President of the NH Register of Deeds Association and am currently the second longest serving member. During the past two years I have served on the Legislative Committee and acted as liaison to NH Planning Office of Strategic Initiatives and the New Hampshire Land Surveyors Association. I have been a speaker at the NHLSA Annual Meeting for the past two years reducing conflict by listening and informing.
For the past three years I have focused on three major restoration projects that followed the exact directive for ARPA which was reduction of risk for public health and public employee health. First outsourcing to US Imaging our last scanning project which digitized our gap years of 1890 -1930. All images dating back to 1774 are now available on the web at our official website at NHdeeds.org. I have secured two full sets of microfilm of all records in the event of an internet failure or electronic grid disruption we can continue to search records and provide copies using our new micro-film reader and generator power. The last project was the restoration of all our historic plan books. These have now been flattened and restored, re-digitized for a crisp image and encased in mylar.
When I first took office I recognized that it would require a lioness to be the gatekeeper for these records and I have not been wrong. I have held a mirror to peoples’ behavior, people who have never been held accountable for their actions. For this I have been met with lies, gaslighting and hostile behavior. I do not believe that local government should be run as a family business. I am determined to finish the work that I started and have the fortitude to finish the job. My team and I love what we do every day. Our world is getting more complicated, and people come to us for direction. We listen, empathize, empower and redirect. We do not practice law, but we can recognize when someone needs legal assistance. Our 3 phone lines are answered on the first ring by a live, friendly, and knowledgeable team member.
In July we broke a record on revenue collection in one month, my team and I processed over 2 million dollars in shared revenue in the month of July and August will be close to 1.5 million. Grafton County is booming and I lead the office that processes these documents and collect and redistribute the taxes. Stability is required for these processes to continue as seamlessly as they are. The only question to the Democratic primary voter should be about competency and stability. I respectfully request the confidence of your vote on September 10, 2024.
Thank you.