Buchanan County Recorder of Deeds Karen Higginbotham will not seek re-election in 2010.

Ms. Higginbotham, who turns 65 this year, said she’ll retire to spend time with family. Had she won again, she would’ve been in line to serve until the age of 70.

The office is political, but the decision is purely personal, she said.

“I’ve been very happy with this job,” Ms. Higginbotham said. “It’s been very challenging. I really hate to leave, but when you reach the age that I do, you think more about your relationship to your family. ... I wish to spend that time with my family and do things I haven’t gotten to do yet.”

The Recorder of Deeds office is one of the least controversial elected offices in the courthouse, but most every person comes in contact with it at some point. It is the official handler of real estate deeds and liens, marriage licenses, military discharges, subdivision plats, power of attorney and more.

Ms. Higginbotham has worked in the office for 31 years, including 12 as chief deputy. Gov. Bob Holden appointed her to run the office in January 2002 after the retirement of her predecessor, Barbara Culp Smith.

Ms. Higginbotham, a Democrat, was elected to the office after winning a three-person primary in August of 2002 with 53 percent of the vote. She ran unopposed in 2006.

Joe Blumberg can be reached

at joeblumberg@npgco.com.