Ready for the challenge
Photo by Todd Luck
Candidate Lynne Johnson
Bolstered by landslide victory, candidate prepares for the November General Election
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
Even Register of Deeds Candidate Lynne Johnson said she was surprised by the results of her primary race.
“To be honest, I was hoping for a close race,” she said. “I was just blown away by the margin, I really was.” Far from a close victory, she garnered 69.8 percent of the voter. Her opponent in the Democratic primary, current Register of Deeds Norman Holleman, got only 30.19 percent. She attributes her victory to her many supporters.
“I am thankful that I had so many people who supported me, and I believe they wanted a change and were ready for a change,” she said.
Johnson, 55, grew up in Wilson, N.C. She came to Winston-Salem to attend college at Winston-Salem State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1982. She had a friend working at the Register of Deeds who asked if she was interested in working there. She accepted and started in 1986 in an entry level deputy register of deeds position in the real estate intake division. She said she initially took the job for its good pay and benefits, but also found that she enjoyed the work. “I like working with people, being around people,” she said.
She would work at the Register of Deeds office for more than 27 years, working in almost every division there. Her final job title was supervisor of vital records, a position that was phased out under Holleman 2013. Holleman cut several positions he said has saved taxpayers $2 million.
Johnson said she felt after serving under five different registers of deeds, she has the experience to hold the office, “I didn’t look at it as a political office, I looked at it as a job that I felt I was very qualified to do,” she said. “I know how that office needs to work, should work, at its most efficient.”
Johnson said she will put people first while protecting their records, if elected. The Register of Deeds office keeps documents such as certificates of birth, death, marriage and real estate transactions.
She currently works at the Forsyth County Clerk of Court office, and juggles work and running for office. She used vacation hours to meet and greet voters during early voting in front of the Forsyth County Government Center. She said her supporters distributed many yard signs to get the word out about her candidacy.
She’ll face Republican Steve Wood of Pfafftown in the November General Election, a race she’s confident she’ll win.
