By Anne Nobile

Last winter I became aware there would be an opportunity to continue being of service to Los Alamos County in a capacity I would enjoy. With the encouragement of longtime friends and fellow volunteers, I soon applied.

I was appointed by the County Council June 21 for a term lasting until Dec. 31.

My letter of interest reviewed my experience as a paralegal, applying government regulations, such as OSHA and ANSI, in my job at the Lab and volunteering as a Planning & Zoning Commissioner for six years. I described additional volunteer work such as 13 years with Girl Scouting and two years with the Los Alamos Affordable Housing Program.

For the last four months I have been dedicated to learning as much as I can to become proficient in this subject area. Often, I am asked about the scope of the job. Probate is the process of distributing the decedent’s assets, and, the probate judge’s mission is to administer this process with forms and the production of documents. We provide no legal advice or counseling. We lend a sympathetic ear as memories are recalled, but, mostly, people want to know how to move through the process. It’s a privilege to be helpful to each and every visitor.

Who are our customers? Some are grief stricken with the recent loss of a loved one. Some are coming to terms with the need to transfer ownership or other practical matters. Some are seeking medical records that will allow them to proceed with Energy Employee claims. Each week brings opportunities to learn.

So, I ask for your vote to continue a job in which I have meaningful experience and to which I feel a profound commitment.