OAKLAND — On Monday, Register of Wills Rita Watson filed as a Republican candidate for election to the post which she has occupied since being appointed by the Or-phan’s Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of long-time Register Joseph DiSimone last June.

DiSimone, her long time mentor and boss, accompanied her to the Board of Elections offices. He has been appointed treasurer of her campaign. He served as the elected register for Garrett County from the time of his election in 1978 until his retirement.

“Rita has served the people of Garrett County as chief deputy register of wills for more than 30 years and she is highly qualified both by experience and education and by the empathy she feels for those who come to that office having lost a loved one,” DiSimone said. “I think she has earned the right to continue to serve in that post.”

Also accompanying Rita was the Rev. Don Matthews, who has been appointed as campaign chairman. Matthews is pastor of the Pine Grove Church of the Brethren and previously served as pastor of the Oak Grove Church of the Brethren.

Rita joined the office in April 1979 and was appointed chief deputy Sept. 1 of that year. A graduate of Southern High School, Rita has studied accounting through Penn Foster Career College. She is a member of the Maryland Register of Wills Association and an associate member of the Maryland Orphans Court Association.

In 2002, Rita organized a series of classes on probate matters which she conducted throughout the county. She designed a program and a PowerPoint presentation and answered questions about probate procedure. In 2005, this program became part of a for-credit course offered by Garrett College, and since then Rita has taught the classes for the college.

“During my 30 years, I have seen many changes in the probate law and the business and workload of the Register’s Office,” she said. “I have worked with Joe and the state as the operations of our office have been brought up to date and today computers are an integral part of our operations. We are scanning our files and our records and all state procedural and legal updates and directives are on the Net, facilitating cooperation between our office and those of the other registers offices as well as the state agencies working with us. One of my goals is to make appropriate estate records, forms and procedures available to the public on the Internet.”

Rita says she believes the most important part of her job is serving the public. “I believe that those in government should go the extra mile in helping people who need their assistance with their problems and questions,” she said. “And I think this is doubly true of the Register’s Office and the Orphans Court, where, every day, we are helping people who have suffered the loss of a family member or loved one. The thing they do not need at such a time is for us to make things worse. I want them to be able to focus on the healing process and not be burdened with official indifference and red tape.”

A lifelong resident of Garrett County, Rita lives in the Deer Park area with her husband, Robert. She is a member of the Southern Garrett Republican Women’s Club and helps with the Rotary Christmas project. She is the proud mother of four children, William, Colleen, Bobbie and Jackie and one grandchild, Madelyn.

In a statement addressed to county voters, she said, “I ask for your help and support and pledge that I will continue to provide friendly and efficient service to those who deal with our office.”