photo by: Contributed photo

Kim Murphree

A public servant with experience in record keeping and a love for land management wants to see the Douglas County Register of Deeds office become more accessible for not only personal business, but also historical information.

Kim Murphree, 61, who has served as a records manager for the Lawrence Police Department for the last 18 years, said she believes she has the right experience in record keeping, understanding of real estate and love for Douglas County history to be the next register of deeds.

“I’m excited and very passionate about the history of Douglas County and being the custodian of the historical record,” she said.

The Register of Deeds Office is responsible for recording various information related to the ownership of real property in Douglas County. Murphree is one of two Democratic candidates running to fill the seat.

Murphree previously told the Journal-World that she chose to run for the position for many reasons, including her experience with LPD and her family’s background in real estate. Her parents were real estate developers in town and she learned to love the processes associated with land development, she said.

Murphree recently said she also believes she can quickly master subject matter, making her an ideal candidate for the position.

“It’s just the right opportunity, and I have the right skill set, education and experience to bring to that office,” she said.

If elected, Murphree said she wants to make the office’s services more accessible online to county residents, especially because of the effect the coronavirus pandemic has had on public offices. That includes making it easier to look up or file important records through the internet, she said.

“We need to advocate the best we can for increased access, and I’m not sure COVID is going away anytime soon,” she said.

Murphree also wants to make sure the public is more informed on what the register of deeds office is responsible for and in what ways it can be used by the public. She said many people may not have a great understanding about what the office does, and she would like to reach out to correct that.

Another benefit to the public is the office’s collection of historical information about Douglas County, and that could be interesting and useful information to the public, she said.

Murphree is a lifelong Lawrence resident. She graduated from Lawrence High School and attended the University of Kansas, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science.