Two Emporians file for county offices
By Brandy Nance
Originally published 01:06 p.m., April 10, 2008
Updated 01:06 p.m., April 10, 2008
Two people have indicated their intent to run for county offices in the past week — one for Lyon County Register of Deeds and one for County Clerk.
Republican Tammy Vopat filed her appointment of treasurer and will run for County Clerk. Republican Victoria Lopez also filed and will re-run for Lyon County Register of Deeds. The deadline to file petitions to be considered for this fall’s election is noon on June 10.
Lopez said she’s been Register of Deeds for four terms. The terms run four years each. She’s been in the department for a total of 24 years.
“That’s a long time,” she said. “Time flies when you’re having fun.”
Lopez originally was attracted to the job when Ilene Burris, who worked in the Lyon County Register of Deeds, called and asked Lopez if she would be interested in the job.
“... She’s the one who helped me a lot through this and taught me everything that I should know now,” Lopez said. “She’s the one who gave me the opportunity because I never thought I’d be here.”
The Register of Deeds office serves several functions, but its main function is the recording of deeds.
“You have a lot of other things that come in and go along with it,” Lopez said. “Deeds and mortgages are the main things that come through.”
Technological advances are one of the major changes that Lopez has seen in the Register of Deeds office through the years.
“Computers help a lot,” she said. “Technology has really moved up since I started.”
The office also functions with one less employee than in past years.
“I think because of the technology we are able to do with just the four of us,” she said. “Three employees plus myself. Of course, the girls I have are really good.”
Lopez said she enjoys her job.
“We are one of the friendliest offices in the courthouse,” she said. “I enjoy the challenges of it. The new technology is also exciting because there’s always something new that comes up.”
Lopez was born and raised in Emporia and has been married to John for 40 years. They have seven children and 13 grandchildren.
“We just had our 13th last week,” Lopez said.
Vopat, another lifelong Emporian, is filing for County Clerk. This is her first time filing for this position, she said.
“I think it’s just a really great opportunity to further serve the residents of Lyon County,” Vopat said. “It’s an opportunity that hasn’t come up for quite a few years. I’m just really excited about the opportunity.”
Vopat currently works in the personal property division of the Lyon County Appraiser’s Office, where she’s worked for six years. She came to the Appraiser’s Office from Birch Telecom.
“They were moving jobs around and it just so happened that this came up,” she said. “I’m glad because I really enjoy it.”
Vopat said she sees the opportunity to run for this office as an opportunity to further serve the residents of Lyon County.
“I just enjoy working with the public,” she said. “... I get to meet a lot of new people. I was not in a position before where I was able to get out there.”
Vopat has been married to John for nearly 20 years. They have two children and two grandchildren.
“And one on the way,” she added.