LEWISTON – Another elected position within Androscoggin County’s leadership has opened up.

Register of Deeds-elect Leonard Bartel, who drew more than 42,000 votes in the recent election, has submitted his resignation.

The move will likely force another caucus of county Democrats, similar to one held Sunday to nominate a replacement for County Commissioner Helen Poulin.

In a letter dated Nov. 5, the day after the election, Bartel resigned to County Democratic Chairman Will Fessenden.

“I have been offered and accepted a full-time job which will prevent me from fulfilling my duties as register of probate,” Bartel wrote. “Please accept my apologies for this turn of events.”

Maine statute requires the governor to appoint a replacement. However, it’s uncertain when that may happen.

In mid-November, Fessenden sent a letter to Baldacci along with notice of a caucus. The hope was to find a replacement before Jan. 1.

Then the county budget began to shift.

A proposal calls for funding the job as a full-time position. The current salary is $15,552 per year.

The entire budget, particularly for salaries, is being examined by the county budget committee and is expected to be finalized before the year’s end.

Until then, it’d be unwise to fill the job, Fessenden said.

The pool of applicants is expected to be small and the probate office, located in the county courthouse in Auburn, is one of the busiest in Maine, according to outgoing Register John Cleveland.

The office reviews and maintains copies of wills, handles adoption paperwork and administers passports. The office has also joined an online network of probate offices on www.maineprobate.net.

The work isn’t for everyone. Anyone running for the office needs a growing skill set of legal knowledge, Fessenden said.

“It’s not like finding someone to make policy,” he said.

Fessenden hopes to hold a countywide caucus of Democrats as soon as the budget is settled, he said.