Joan Bestpitch This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Retired teacher to challenge incumbent for register of wills

   www.doverpost.com/pages/newrei - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/11/2004   Last Visited: 8/11/2004

   Joan Bestpitch of Smyrna will be running as a Republican, challenging incumbent Democrat Thomas Weyant in November for the four-year term.
   
   Bestpitch retired in 2003 after working for 35 years in the Smyrna School District, the last 23 as a certified teacher. She also taught at the Kenton School when it was separate from the Smyrna School District.
   
   She has been an active volunteer in the Republican Party for many years, working on two successful campaigns for other candidates and serving as a delegate to two state Republican conventions. She is vice president of the Kent County Republican Women and vice president of the Nominating Committee of the Delaware Federation of Republican Women.
   
   John C. Sigler, chairman of the Kent County Republican Party, said Bestpitch knows the duties of the job and she is dedicated to serving the people of Kent County.
   
   "Joan understands this office must accomplish two main duties - to run efficiently, but more importantly to run with compassion," said Sigler.
   ...
   With Joan, citizens of Kent County and the state can rely upon the records being properly kept and also that their concerns are being met."
   
   Bestpitch said, "My children are all grown. I've retired. I don't have any other responsibilities. I can devote my full attention to this office."
   
   She is a widow and the mother of seven children, including Kent County Levy Court President David Burris. Bestpitch said she doesn't think this will be an issue because the register of wills is elected by voters, not appointed by Levy Court.
   
   The responsibilities of the register of wills office include opening the will when a person has died, giving instructions to the executor of the will and relatives of the deceased, and making sure the will is recorded in Chancery Court.
   
   "Now, computers are used to pull up the name and they tell you in what book to go to find the will," said Bestpitch. "We need a new system so that the will can be pulled up on the computer, so it's easy for lawyers and for the families to see. Wills are public knowledge once a person dies."
   
   "We need to make the system more user friendly," said Bestpitch.
   ...
   "That's because the office has to be near the court, by law," Bestpitch said. "We need to improve the computer system because we'll have to communicate with the new county building all the time."
   
   Bestpitch said she has the experience to help direct this change.
   
   "Together with two other teachers, I developed a computer program to use for special education students," she said.
   
   In addition to her Republican Party affiliations, Bestpitch is a member of the Retired School Personnel, American Association of Retired Persons, First Presbyterian Church, the Delaware Agricultural Museum, and is vice president of the Ducks Unlimited Quack Pack.