After more than a decade of serving citizens in Carter County, one local woman is hoping to take the next step in her career.

Jessica Barnett Markland will be running for Register of Deeds in the 2018 Carter County election.

Markland currently works in the Register of Deeds Office under the current office holder Edrie “Jodie” Bristol. She began her career with the office 11 years ago in 2006.

Through her duties, Markland is familiar with all functions of the Register of Deeds Office — from assisting residents with questions, to maintaining records, and experience with the budget process.

Bristol selected Markland to serve as her Chief Deputy, or second in command, in the office, a position which would grant Markland the authority to operate the office should Bristol be absent.

After naming Markland as her Chief Deputy, Bristol trained her in all the operations of the office as well as the duties of the office holder. Markland has served as the Chief Deputy for the Register for the past few years.

“Working with Edrie “Jodie” Bristol over the last 11 years has been inspiring and educational,” Markland said. “Jodie has been a wonderful employer and a personal role model.”

Bristol decided not to seek election to another term in office, so Markland said she felt it was the appropriate time for her to run for the office.

“I feel like I have been led to this position, and with my experience, it is the next step in my career,” Markland said. “If elected, I promise to keep the same integrity and respect you have come to expect from this office over the years.

“My experience will allow me to run the office just like you have come to expect,” she added.

One of the most important duties of the office, Markland said, is “the recording of instruments that affect real and personal properties” and then maintaining those records securely.

“If elected to the office, I pledge to continue to provide friendly and courteous service while implementing the latest technology to keep the most secure, advanced record system available for Carter County,” Markland said. “I look forward to working with the Carter County Commission, the Budget Committee, the Records Committee, and the other county officials.”

One of the things which Markland most enjoys about her work with the Register of Deeds Office is the change it gives her to interact with other people.

“Since the age of 16 I have been working with people, and that is the greatest enjoyment of work,” she said. “I get to deal with the public, help them, and hear their stories.”

Another aspect of the job which Markland enjoys is the opportunity to research through some of the county’s oldest records as she searches to find answers to assist residents. Searching through the old records provides a link to the community’s past and history in a tangible way, Markland said.

A 2004 graduate of Elizabethton High School, Markland is the daughter of Rene Crowder Barnett and the late Johnny Barnett. She is the granddaughter of Sam and Loretta Crowder and the late John and Jean Barnett. Markland and her husband, Justyn, have been married for two years and the couple is expecting their first child later this year.

In addition to her work with the Register of Deeds Office and spending time with her family, Markland is also active in the community.

“I do have lots of interest in other clubs and volunteer work,” Markland said.

She is a member of the Carter County Republican Women and for the past two years has been active with youth in the community while working with the Back To School Bash celebrations for both the Carter County and City of Elizabethton school systems.