Incumbent recorder of deeds Ann Dudish of Pottsville has announced her intention to seek the Republican nomination to the office in the May 19 primary election. Dudish was appointed by former Gov. Tom Corbett in September to fill the office held by her late husband, A. Matthew Dudish.

Matt Dudish died June 26, 2014, after a battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.Before her appointment, Dudish, a lifelong Republican, has been the financial controller of Richard B. Ryon Insurance, of Anthracite Abstract Company and of Murphy Jewelers. She is a member of the American Land Title Association, the Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds Association, an affiliate member of the Schuylkill County Board of Realtors, and has received her CISR agent designation. She is a licensed property, casualty, life, accident and health insurance agent.The recorder of deeds office is responsible for maintaining permanent records of all documents related to real estate, such as deeds, mortgages and subdivision plans, and also notary public commissions and military discharges. The recorders office is also the transfer agent for the realty transfer tax for 67 municipalities and 14 school districts. Dudish's extensive background in financial management has given her the qualifications needed to run an efficient office.Dudish emphasized the need to apply technology to the office. During her tenure as recorder of deeds, Dudish is making all recorded documents available online back to the year 1945."I believe providing more public access to the permanent records is an important function of the office," she said.Dudish is a member of the Schuylkill Health Auxiliary, a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Pottsville, and has been a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.A lifelong resident of Schuylkill County, she is the daughter of Catherine and the late Francis Klema, and is a graduate of Pottsville Area High School. She and her husband raised a daughter and a son. Their daughter, Amanda Dudish Black, wife of Mark Black, manages a law firm in Austin, Texas. Their son, Senior Airman Drew Dudish, is stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, Washington.