Salt Lake Tribune - Robert Kirby Column - 10/13/2020
"Conscientiously speaking, I have no idea why anyone would want to run for public office. My neighbor across the street — whom I shall refer to only as Erin Preston — is running for Salt Lake County recorder…
"I didn’t know Erin was running for public office (or was even musically inclined) until I saw a campaign sign in her yard one morning. I immediately lent her my support by trying to save her from herself.
Me • "Are you out of your damn mind?" Her • "I had to do something."
"We engaged in serious political discourse. Whereas I held the view that the phrase “had to do something” normally involved a gun held to your head, she argued strongly that the collective good was at stake and she felt the need to get involved…
"That is about as much sense as any election will have this year. Nevertheless, I’ll still vote. It’s something I have to do." read article
Salt Lake Tribune - Salt Lake County Recorder Touts Transparency, but her Opponent says it’s Lacking
The recorder needs to do a better job making documents searchable and viewable online for free. In Summit, Utah and Washington counties, viewing is free and easy online. "More importantly, they can help a property owner detect title fraud, Preston said, a type of identity theft where someone illegally transfers a deed or borrows against the property. This is an area where fraud would be easy to accomplish because of the lack of transparency’s equity." read more
Washington Post - Utah Women were the First to Vote - (Erin Preston pictured above). Only after women gained the right were they able to gain additional rights we have long taken for granted. One of the first and most important was the right for a woman to own property in her own name. Previously, the vast majority of women in the nation could only own property through their husbands. This made them dependent on their husbands for their homes and possessions, as both were the property of the husband to do with as they chose. Only after gaining the right to own and control their own property could women achieve the security, for them and their families, we take for granted today. read more
You Deserve An Expert - Salt Lake County residents and property owners deserve a legal expert protecting their sacred asset as their county recorder. Erin Preston, BYU Law graduate, spent 3 years investigating and prosecuting financial crimes against Utah citizens for the SEC. read more
Great-Grandma's Example - My Great-Grandma Mattie Givens was left alone to raise 4 sons in the Idaho desert, and yet she built a commercial hot spring, hotel, school, and community starting in the 1880's. Back then a woman could not own property in her own name. But property ownership is fundamental to the stability of families and businesses. read more
Erin learned the value of hard work in Southwest Idaho, growing up in a farming, ranching, and construction family.
After attending BYU on a scholarship, Erin clerked in Washington D.C. where she interacted with the likes of Bob Dole and John McCain. She then graduated from BYU Law School , and has raised her five children in Salt Lake County.
She served at the SEC to protect Utah families, and has had a successful career in education. In 2014, she formed a legal practice specializing in property rights, land transactions, encumbrances, and fighting off predatory companies.
Her legal background and wide experience makes her uniquely qualified to be your Salt Lake County Recorder. read more
Where were you on March 18th? I was home with my family as we were processing the gathering storm of health, business, education and legal issues like dark clouds on the horizon. As I thought about the most critical issues we could face as a society, one of the first was the need for people to feel secure in their home ownership.
So the next day, I registered to run for the Salt Lake County Recorder position. Why? My concern that the gathering storm of issues our country faced could jeopardize the security of our property rights, particularly in Salt Lake County – my home of 25 years.
Over the past 5 months I have spoken with property owners and others impacted by issues that can be traced back to the SL County Recorder’s Office.
Some have involved issues home owner’s difficulty searching for their property records. Some have dealt with filings made against their property they never knew about, but are too late to easily challenge now. Others have dealt with inaccurate records filed that intentionally or unintentionally jeopardize their property.
So over the past 5 months my initial concerns have only increased. I am convinced that we need to make changes to the Salt Lake County Recorder’s Office to property records transparent, searchable and accurate. That is why I am running for the position of SL County Recorder.
Erin Preston is experienced in administration, property rights, legislation, education, and legal cases, She is a strong advocate for fair play and due process, and defends the vulnerable against overreach by predatory organizations and individuals.