Kevin Jacobs has qualified to seek the office of Marengo County Probate Judge. He will run as a Democrat.

Jacobs currently holds the position of General Ledger/Insurance/Risk Manager with ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA in Mobile where he helps lead the accounting and finance department for one of the largest capital projects in U.S. history. His previous experience includes managing cost accounting at Foster Farms in Demopolis and serving as Assistant Controller for Certegy Financial Services in Tuscaloosa.

“The position of Probate Judge can best be described as an administrator of assets and my accounting degree paired with years of experience in my profession have prepared me for such a position,” he said. “I graduated with honors while working a full-time swing-shift schedule at Gulf States and I will apply this same energy and focus into learning the probate laws the same way that I have learned the laws governing financial reporting.”

One of the first projects Jacobs said he would like to tackle would be automation of key office functions.

“The first thing I would research is if I could automate and streamline more of the tag and license process to help lessen the wait times that some people endure,” he said, adding that he has implemented the automation of travel expense reporting for ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA. “My team and I went live with the project in March 2011 and through the first nine months it has been an overwhelming success.

Jacobs, who is seeking an elected office for the first time, said he sees the opportunity to serve as probate judge as a way to further serve his community.

“Through my involvement in the Bethel Baptist Builders, Linden’s Wildwood Festival, the Demopolis Civitan Club, Christmas On The River and United Way, I have always enjoyed helping others and serving as probate judge would offer me an opportunity to continue serving the community that helped raise me,” he said.

“I am the third generation of my family to call Marengo County home and I want my children to carry on that tradition. I love this county. I understand her citizens and it’s these feelings that drive me to do all I can to make Marengo County a little better than it was the day before.”

Jacobs currently resides in Linden with his wife of 12 years, Madaline, and his children, Jake and Wessie Lee. He is an active member of the Linden United Methodist choir and is a graduate of Leadership Marengo.

He said his education and background bring valuable experience to an office charged with directing much of the county’s tax revenues.

“My education and experience qualify me as the best candidate for this position,” Jacobs added. “I have successfully guided the finances of the largest capital project in ThyssenKrupp’s 200 year history and I want to bring the lessons I learned working for one of the largest companies in the world home to Marengo County.”

– from staff reports