Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

I am a life long resident of Johnston County. Parents were the late James and Pearl Olive. A 1983 graduate from Smithfield-Selma Senior High School and attended Johnston Community College in the business administration program. I was employed by the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles for 13 years as a senior driver licenses examiner. I have held the office of Johnston County Register of Deeds from 2002-present.

Recipient of the following awards: The Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Governor Jim Martin, The National Trail Blazer Awards of implementing technology efforts in the Register of Deeds office for 2006, 2008 and 2010, The 2008 Ralph Ketner Award for innovation and efficiency in government services. In February 2010, I was awarded The Honorary Keeper of the Constitution, from NC Secretary of State Marshall for striving to modernize how public records and filings are kept. This secures public records to the highest level of historical safety, while also making them more accessible to the public for electronic viewing. I also was recognized in the US Congressional Record in 1992.

I served on the Johnston Community College Board of Trustees, Johnston Community College Foundation Board of Advisors of the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium at Johnston Community College, Johnston County Tourism Authority and Capital Campaign of the Johnston County Heritage Center. In 1998, I was appointed to serve on the North Carolina Competition Commission.

I am a member of the Little Creek Primitive Baptist Church, where I am serving as a Deacon, Church Clerk, and Trustee. I am also serving on The Little River Primitive Baptist Association Finance Committee.

With my 8 years of experience as Johnston County Register of Deeds, I have strived to bring the latest technology to the office to make public records more accessible to users. We are seeing the rewards of automation of the office; operating budget has decreased by 30%, returned $1.7 million of unused funds back to the county, reduced various fees, professionals and users are now saving time and money, implemented numerous cost saving measures, and eliminated the need for additional personnel.  The Johnston County Register of Deeds Office is well known on the National level as a leader in technology.  With my proven leadership, I have always put the citizens first and will continue to be their public servant.  I will continue to save tax dollars, while bringing the latest in technology to the office.