Republicans face off for public administrator race

Incumbent Lynn EnEarl, 55, wants to keep her position as Douglas County's public administrator. She will face Jay Lather in the upcoming election.

The Public Administrator handles probate for people in Douglas County who die without a will. The administrator also acts as a guardian for the elderly or disabled who have no one else to care for them.

"I enjoy my job and I think my knowledge from the years I've been in this position are an asset," she said. "But more than anything, I enjoy people."

It's an arduous task that involves listing all property, cataloging household goods and arranging the assets for sale or disposal. EnEarl holds her own auctions because auction houses take such a large portion of the proceeds, she said.

"It's not easy and it's very time-consuming," she said.

A Republican, EnEarl has served two four-year terms in the position.

She was deputy public administrator under Bill Reynolds three years prior to taking the position and for her, the work is gratifying, she said.

"I really care about these people and I think I make a difference," she said. "I don't look at it as a job. At the end of the day, I know I've helped someone."

In addition to the years she's spent doing this type of work, she has worked on a number of boards for Douglas County's senior center, she said.

"I saw seniors come in, those who had no other place to go. Sometimes, it's very sad to see that at the end of a person's life, there is no family," she said. "It breaks my heart. It did 8 years ago when I started and it still does today.

"It happens a lot more than people are aware of. That's the reason I'm involved."

EnEarl is the wife of Justice of the Peace Jim EnEarl and together they have twin daughters. Christina is a youth counselor at China Spring Youth Camp and Lisa is a certified paralegal for a local attourney.

n Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.