photo by: Lawrence Journal-World file photo

Kent Brown, Douglas County's deputy register of deeds, is pictured in the Register of Deeds Office in 2019. Brown filed to run for the top register of deeds position in the 2020 election.

The man who is second in charge of Douglas County’s Register of Deeds Office has thrown his hat into the ring to become the office’s leader.

Kent Brown, who is currently Douglas County’s deputy register of deeds, on Wednesday filed to run for the top register of deeds position in the 2020 election, according to the Douglas County Elections Office.

Brown, a Democrat, is the first candidate to file for the register of deeds position.

The Register of Deeds Office is responsible for recording various information related to the ownership of real property in Douglas County.

Kay Pesnell is the current Douglas County register of deeds. She has served in the position since 2002 when she was appointed to replace Sue Neustifter, who retired at that time, according to a Douglas County website. She has been elected to the position four times since. She told the Journal-World on Wednesday that she does not plan to run again.

The candidate filing and withdrawal deadline for the 2020 election is June 1, according to information on the county clerk’s website, douglascountyelections.com. The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 4.