May 16, 2003 By Christine Haines 3 min read

WASHINGTON – Three candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination for Washington County prothonotary. Judith Fisher and Richard Warco are challenging incumbent Phyllis Ranko Matheny. Fisher is currently the Democratic jury commissioner. Warco, who ran for register of wills four years ago, is a coal miner.

Fisher, 64, is halfway through her third term as jury commissioner and said she initially hadn’t considered changing offices.

“There were so many people who came down in the courthouse who asked me to run, especially from her (Matheny’s) office,” Fisher said. “I know I serve the public well in my jury commissioner’s office and I know I can serve them better as prothonotary.”

Fisher said she would like to see changes in the prothonotary’s office. The office handles the filing of all papers in the civil division of the county courts. Fisher said one change would be to have the staff work staggered hours so extra personnel can be on hand during the office’s busiest hours.

“I intend to make changes in the attitude of that office. I want the office to be more friendly to the public and more courteous to the public,” Fisher said.

Fisher said she is considering a staff recognition and appreciation program to help improve staff morale. She said she would also like to establish an office Web site.

Matheny, 62, is completing her second term as prothonotary. She has spent 26 of the past 30 years in the prothonotary’s office, with a four-year break when she first ran for office and lost.

“I started in 1973 as a clerk-typist. I really like my job. I worked my way up,” Matheny said. “I started when it was a manual system. I was here when we implemented the first computer system and it wasn’t Y2K compatible and I was here for the installation of the next system as well.

“I don’t think there’s anything that’s going to beat the hands-on experience that I have.”

Matheny said some previous features were lost when the new system was installed, including remote access that allowed attorneys and members of the public to access the office files on-line.

“Probably by the end of summer we will have remote access again,” Matheny said. “On down the line, there’s probably going to be scanning. Electronic filing has been tried in some counties.”

Matheny said she is still working to make the new computer system more user-friendly for the public.

Warco, 51, has served as the treasurer, recording secretary and president of United Mine Workers Local 2258 over the years, but has not served in public elected office. He is a former Air Force mechanic and crew life support specialist with the Air Force Reserve and he also served with the Air National Guard.

“I’ve been watching different offices in the county and I feel that the prothonotary’s office needs to be updated. I know there have been bad relationships with the employees. They need to clean up the relationships between the employees and with the public and with the attorneys who use the office,” Warco said.

Warco said he’d like to see the employees receive training and for the computer system to be updated.

“I feel that I’m more than qualified to update that. They need some newer ideas up in that office,” Warco said.

Warco’s educational background includes a degree in mining technology from Penn State University, as well as classes at Washington and Jefferson College in business law, employee relations and accounting.