Register of Deeds race gets more crowded

John Keith of the South End (yes, our John Keith) is running for Suffolk County Register of Deeds, joining a field that includes former city councilors Steve Murphy and Charles Yancey, perennial candidate Doug Bennett and newcomers Katie Forde and Paul Nutting.

Unlike the other candidates, Keith, a long-time real-estate broker, says he would spend his first year figuring out if the job should even exist as an elected position anymore.

But, he adds, if you're going to elect somebody, elect somebody who actually knows about real estate.

As a real estate broker for the past fourteen years, I am involved with the deeds office on a regular basis, and visit its website, daily. My experience makes me the best person for this position.

For too long, the registrar of deeds job has been seen as a political office that exists purely for personal gain. In reality, the role is an important and necessary one. Of any elected office, this job should go to someone based on what he or she knows, not who she or he knows.

Also unlike the other candidates, Keith will run as an independent, meaning an automatic slot on the November ballot, should he collect enough signatures.

Whoever wins would replace Mickey Roache, who resigned in December.