Olive seeks to continue to provide excellent customer service and advancements in technology as Registrar
Craig Olive, Johnston County Register of Deeds, has formally announced his intentions to seek another term in office. Olive, a 56 year old native of Johnston County, was first elected to the post in 2002 and has continuously served as Registrar since that time.
“It is my desire to continue to serve the fine citizens of our county. I feel honored to fulfill a life-long dream of serving the public and will continue to hold this position in high regard,” states Mr. Olive.
On Olive’s watch, when first elected, he streamlined services in the office to cut the office’s budget by 30 percent and returned $4.1 million in unused funds to the county during the past 18 years.
Olive is well known for offering great customer service to his constituents and all who enter his office. In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, his office remained open to serve the public and complete the tasks he was elected to do. During the fiscal year 2020-21, his office generated a record $7,422,592.
During the past few years, Olive’s office has received National awards for providing users with access to digitized land and vital records dating from 1746, allowing for easier access of historical records. In 2010, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall awarded Olive “The Honorary Keeper of the Constitution” for striving to modernize and make public records more accessible while securing them at a historical level of safety. In 2015, his office was awarded the Tyler Technologies Excellence Award. Olive received the Long Leaf Pine from Governor Pat McCrory in 2009.
Olive has been recognized twice in the US Congressional Record – in 1999 by US Congressman Walter Jones and in 2011 by US Congresswoman Renee Ellmers.
Recently, Olive had 69 vital records books restored for generations to come. Roughly 40 additional vital records books are in the process of being restored at this time. “I believe it is necessary to preserve this part of history and I will dedicate resources to make sure this task is completed,” states Olive.
Mr. Olive also embraced electronically recording documents. This is a much easier, quicker and cost effective solution for both the attorneys involved and the people whose documents are being recorded. His office was the first in the nation to accept a plat map electronically and the first in the state to follow the guidelines put forth by NC Secretary of State for accepting land records electronically. With the visionary outlook, Olive’s office was able to proceed as normal when the COVID-19 Pandemic hit because his office was accustomed to recording documents electronically. Currently, roughly 84% of all documents recorded in his office are recorded electronically.
In 2016, Mr. Olive implemented the Thank-A-Vet Program to help veterans of Johnston County by providing them with an ID card that allows them to obtain discounts from various merchants within the county. An added benefit of this program is that it allows for better safe-keeping of veterans’ DD-214, their military discharge papers. Over 1700 veterans have taken advantage of this program. “Honoring our veterans is a special privilege for me and I am thankful to each and every one of our service men and women who served our country,” states Olive.
He helped passed a bill along with US Congressman David Rouzer to help prevent identity theft. Since, 2008 he has hosted an annual free shred event for the public.
Also, he facilitated the process of the Johnston County Register of Deeds office being recognized as a US Passport Acceptance Agency. This makes it much easier for county residents to obtain passports. While this is convenient to the citizens of the county, it has also added revenue to the county. Since the inception of the program, $480,000 has been added to the general fund of the county.
“I am pleased to be able to provide the passport service to the citizens, while at the same time, putting the money derived from the required fees back into the county. Every little bit helps. My hope is that the revenue generated from issuing passports will help to offset the need for future property tax increases.”
Craig Olive has dedicated many hours to public service outside of the Register of Deeds office. He has served numerous boards and committees including the Board of Trustees at Johnston Community College, the Johnston County Tourism Board, the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium Board of Advisors, and the Johnston County Soil and Water Conservation Advisory Board. the Board of Directors of the Clayton Area of Commerce, the Board of Trustees at Johnston Community College, the Johnston County Tourism Board, the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium Board of Advisors, and the Johnston County Soil and Water Conservation Advisory Board. Olive is a member of all of the Chambers of Commerce in the county.
In addition, Mr. Olive helped to establish an endowment scholarship at Johnston Community College in memory of his late mother, Pearl T. Olive. This endowment provides scholarship support for JCC students to further their education in the medical field.
Olive is a big advocate of senior citizens programs. He is a volunteer and past honorary chairman for the Johnston County Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Olive supports the Community and Senior Services of Johnston County who annually present the Candlelight Reflections event, a ceremony remembering those living with Alzheimer’s, their caregivers and the ones we’ve lost to this disease. He assists with the promotion and planning for this event yearly.
Olive is the son of the late James C. and Pearl T. Olive and is a resident of Clayton. He is the youngest child of 15 siblings and is a caregiver for his brother who has End Stage Renal Disease. Olive has several nieces, nephews, and 4 special dogs. He is a member and pastor of Little Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Clayton. He also serves as pastor for Clement Primitive Baptist Church in Four Oaks. Previously, he served as a deacon and church clerk. He also serves as the moderator of the Little River Primitive Baptist Association.
“My doors are always open to assist our citizens and those in need. I look forward to continuing my service to the citizens of this great county and to build upon our past successes and accomplishments. I am humbled to serve Johnston County as Register of Deeds,” Mr. Olive said.
There are three types of human beings that inhabit this earth from the beginning to the end. Those that are good, those that are lost and those that are inherently evil. Thankfully all of our local government has not as of yet been been conquered by the latter one. Thank you Mr. Olive for the hard fought fight.