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Meet your Democratic candidates for Suffolk County register of deeds

The Globe profiles the five candidates who show up at candidate forums - Katie Forde, Stephanie Everett, Mike Mackan, Jeffrey Ross and Paul Nutting - and the two who couldn't be bothered, so why waste time mentioning their names?

Whoever wins will face three independents in November.

Ed note: The primary is this Thursday. Yes, it's an oddball date that probably only benefits one of the candidates who doesn't really want to deal with forums.

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Comments

seems to accompany every article about the race with a huge photo of the one candidate who's phoning the whole thing in.

I'm putting my money on Nutting but I'm afraid with this big a field and so few voters, Murphy's going to just sponge his way in.

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Looks like Murph's finally on his way to victory for something other than the City Council, at least in the primary.

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and if he goes on to win the general he will actually earn $25,000/year more than he would if he was still on the city council. The article also suggests that an election for this post is not absolutely necessary?:

This year, William F. Galvin, the secretary of state, declined to exercise his right to unilaterally appoint a new Suffolk County register of deeds and bypass the upcoming election.

I don't understand if that means the SOS always has that right, or if it's because Mickey Roache resigned the post?

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Don't forget this is a guy who thinks his primary gig is to reduce valid third party alternatives to Dems and Reps. based on his actions regarding United Independents.

So to recap - third parties are 'a waste of vote' per him but also he makes an effort to get long time hack Democratic politician Steve Murphy elected.

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The register serves for six years. Roache resigned in the middle of his term, so whoever gets elected will only serve out the X remaining years (three, maybe? Paging John Keith!).

The secretary of state had two options: He could appoint somebody to fill out the remaining years of Roache's term, or call an election. Murphy asked Galvin to appoint him. But even Galvin couldn't bring himself to do that - given that Murphy's wife already works for Galvin (in the elections division) and that would have looked, oh, a bit too not very good.

Bonus fun fact: Based on the Globe story that mentioned that and today's story, it looks like the Globe has only one photo of Murphy, which they will keep using over and over again.

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... wut?

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No one outside of a small portion of Dorchester, and you , even knows who this guy is.

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whose name and artistic skills you really can't avoid, has anyone heard of ANY of these people?

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He was elected to some office or other at one time. State Rep, maybe?

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sadly.

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On the ballot, he is designated as "Former City Council President, County Commissioner"-in case the name alone is not familiar enough.

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She's smart, a firecracker, has been on the other side of the desk with the deeds department a long time, and I'm voting for her.

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and are knowledgable seem split between Forde and Nutting. Which is, I'm afraid, going to end up with Murphy winning. As Charlie Brown used to say: AAUUGGGHHHH!!!

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If one of them truly wanted to ensure a non career politician got in, they would have stepped down and endorsed the other.

I'm going for Nutting, since he seems to have better credentials. Forde kind of seems like a budding politician, but I won't go as far as to put her in my Connolly, Pressley, and yes Murphy category.

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... and your chicks for free?

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Thanks for the reminder! I had completely spaced out about Thursday and was thinking next week. I (think) I've settled on my candidate for Suffolk 7th Representative, which is actually competitive this year. Still mulling over ROD-among the candidates who actually want to do the job.

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I know it's a state-wide election, but the timing is incredible that falls on a Thursday (?) which also happens to be the first day of students for BPS. It's usually hectic day anyway, without a bunch of voters and poll workers taking up cafeterias and gyms. Is it just a math thing (general election day - x days)?

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the Morrissey Boulevard Gazette ignore the most qualified candidate because of their hate of green laminated wooden products.

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Whatcha gonna run for in the next election, then?

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President Trump will take notice and nominate Mr. Deeds for Secretary of the Interior. Congressional ratification will set Mr. Deeds of running on a signage campaign which will bring more Americans to National Parks than in any other time in history. There are political dreams and there is a beautiful green sign of this dimensions reality.

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Could you please clarify your remarks for the uninitiated? Thanks. So far I can't see why I should vote for any of the candidates, though I know I at least will not be voting for Doug Bennett. The Globe article didn't really help narrow down the qualified and deserving candidates.

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And despite not having written up either of them, because, ugh, this is such a stupid election, for a position that (in my opinion) has no business being elected, here are the basic qualifications of each:

Jeff Ross is a lawyer who has worked with people getting their homes repossessed.

Paul Nutting's entire adult life has led up to him becoming register of deeds because he works with maps and data collection for a living and that's basically what the registry is involved in.

Katie Ford is a paralegal who has also worked with people involved in registry transactions.

Stephanie Everett is a lawyer who has done extensive work in the registry. Also, she was once homeless.

Mike Mackan used to do code enforcement for the city of Boston so knows city neighborhoods well. Also, he reminds people, constantly, to remember to be Backin' Mackan (even though his palm cards all say "Backing Mackan," which just doesn't rhyme).

All but Mackan say a priority would be bringing the Registry Web site into the 21st century. Mackan says he would first talk to existing Registry employees - all of whom report to the Secretary of State, not the register - to learn what to do first.

The other two candidates, one known for his giant hand-painted green signs and, more recently, for getting into pissing matches with elected officials over said signs, the other known for trying to get a monorail installed on the Greenway and for once threatening to have the police commissioner arrested for not appearing before him to discuss bringing police horses back to Boston, have no discernible skills related to real estate or the registry.

Note: Of the three independents running for the seat in November, one (Donnelly) refreshingly told a RoxVote forum that he's running because he's worked on commission for 27 years, and figured he'd like to just get a straight salary for a change.

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Thanks, Adam! Your reply was most helpful.

It blows my mind that this position pays $124K.

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Private sector managerial jobs involving a giant computer system and heavy responsibility pay a lot more than this.

You should talk to private sector tech managers a little more often.

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Private-sector jobs that pay that much usually have more responsibility than this job - like you get to review employees and stuff.

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Your opinion is interesting... though it would be more interesting if you were a Suffolk County resident and therefore eligible to vote in Thursday's election. Also, when your taxes match the taxes I pay to live, own property and do business in the city of Boston then please come back to me with your vague 'You should talk to private sector tech managers a little more often' retort. Thanks!

Lastly, I'd be more inclined to vote for someone with a computer science degree to manage 'a giant computer system' as you call it, than a lawyer or someone else who has no expertise in this field.

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First, since it is a state job, her taxes do pay the salary of the Register of Deeds for Suffolk County, just like I pay the salary of the Register of Deeds for Middlesex County, which leads me to...

Second, the wages are set for the position statewide, so we are paying the Register of Deeds for Middlesex County and the other 13 counties the same salary.

(And since I am too lazy to look it up, I'm also willing to bet that the offices are all self supporting due to the fees (voted by the General Court and applied to all Registries) charged when someone does business in the office. Therefore, your property and excise taxes mean even less than you think they do in this case.)

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Wow. Makes me wonder why there aren't 80 candidate races in Berkshire, Dukes and Nantucket!

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Upon further review, the Suffolk Register is paid on a different scale, but all the other Registers are paid the same, and to the point, it is set in state law.

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The Secretary of State, Gavin's office handles the whole Commonwealth access to records. Each registry has the option to do their own thing, and most go with Gavins Masslandrecords website. It is very good, it was updated like 4 years ago and has improved. I am happy with it, but I wish Plymouth and Barnstable would fix their shit.

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Nutting seems to have a ton of technical background that would allow him to do some practical and cool things in this otherwise do next-to-nutting (I mean nothing) job.

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I'll probably end up voting for John Keith in the general - but I'll make it a point to vote for Nutting Thursday based on this and a couple comments above.

Although sadly, I'm guessing Murphy will get 8 family members to vote for him and he'll take it in a landslide. :-(

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Paul Nutting is active in the Columbia Savin Hill Civic Association and in their Planning Board. Anyone following him on Twitter can see how committed to Boston and its neighborhoods he is; he was a vocal opponent of the 2024 Olympics. He has the employment background in maps and data collection that would allow him to step easily into the responsibilities of Register of Deeds. He is committed to bringing that office into a digital 21st century and making it transparent and user friendly. I think he's an obvious choice for the position, but I too fear that Murphy may get in through name recognition. I hope voters will show up on Thursday and prove me wrong.

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If you're undecided about Suffolk County Sheriff, Douglas Bennett would like to tell you a story:

http://www.universalhub.com/2013/steve-tompkins-acts-animal-has-mental-m...

(Bennett's version of events is at least somewhat corroborated by: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/09/23/suffolk-sheriff-fined/FyWo6...)

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...then there's removing Doug Bennett's signs.

Anyone remember how long the last one across Centre from Jackson Square station was up? At least through a few seasons-- maybe my memory is faulty but I'm pretty sure I saw it with snow on it.

I wonder about this when I walk through Chinatown and see signs for Menino's last election fading in the window. Like Christmas decorations, might we please have a statute of limitations on how long campaign signs can be up? It makes me feel all sentimental on my lunch break & that's not good.

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I thought it was an awesome line.

Of course, most of my money is tied up in investments in the plywood and green and white paint industries, so I might be biased.

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Genius is not always recognized.

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The ultimate hack political job.

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Please explain. Thanks.

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running.

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I wish he would run.

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I think Tom would make an excellent Suffolk County Register of Deeds. I've only met him once, but it was a great meeting. He answered every one of my questions, showed me around the Registry, and seemed to know everything about how things were done. (He's been there for sixteen years and he has a law degree.)

Why didn't he, when the office opened up? - He doesn't live in Suffolk County and circumstances kept him from wanting to move.

My job will be much easier with Tom as First Assistant Register, that's for sure.

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I have worked with Mr. Ryan for years, I have a very memorable experience with him, in 2006-2008 on the last day before Christmas, I was recording a very important package for a candy company in the area, and it was like 3:30PM in the afternoon when I rushed in with all my documents, and my job was to get it on record. So, theres like 15 different documents, a very complicated conveyance... and its the last day before Christmas, and Tom Ryan, sent everyone home, and he worked with me for like an HOUR -- we did not end until like 4:50 which is 65 minutes past their 3:45 cutoff.

So, that was very memorable, and I made sure to compliment him on his awesomeness with a big box of NECCO candy a week later.

I regret not being able to vote in this one as I am a Middlesexer, but I would definitely write in Tom Ryan.

As for WHY he doesnt run -- I have that same question, but I dont think it would be ideal for me to contact him and ask him. Its his choice. I have NO IDEA about these other people running, and I regret all the negative comments about the Register of Deeds, it is not a hack job, it is very very important for real estate records and conveyance.

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Official Specimen Ballot
https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/509nz5/boston_election_commissi...

What's a good way to get an understanding of the Ballot Questions?
https://www.reddit.com/r/massachusetts/comments/51jtd7/massachusetts_wha...

Sample Specimen Ballots for different Wards/Precincts available by email via
https://www.boston.gov/departments/elections

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I voted today in Dorchester. The usual collection of signs were hanging on the fence in front of the school where I vote, including the worst ugliest hand painted sign I've ever seen from Dougie B. His signs usually look like they were painted by a 3rd grader (apologies to 3rd graders). This sign looked like it was painted by a 3 year old (apologies to 3 year olds)
I seriously urge the City Council to pass an emergency law banning Doug and his signs from the city

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...specifically Article I, section 9 forbids bills of attainder.

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The latest robocall I got from the campaign was from someone who was probably about 3 years old- his son.

I like his signs. I think he is crazy, but the signs are awesome.

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