The Massachusetts primary is next Thursday, Sept. 8. Four candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Register of Deeds; a fifth independent candidate will appear on the November general election ballot. The Gazette emailed customized questionnaires to each announced candidate for office asking them to answer two general questions: why Martha’s Vineyard voters should elect them and what their qualifications were for office. County office candidates were also asked why the job they are seeking should matter to local voters.

Martina Thornton
Edgartown Unenrolled
Register of Deeds Candidate

Statement

I am well suited for the position of the Register of Deeds with my unique set of skills acquired through 15 years of work experience on Martha’s Vineyard as county manager, real estate paralegal, title examiner and real estate broker. I have legal education and training, I am a Notary Public. I have accounting and tax preparation experience. I have proved my management skills to run efficient operations of the county, bring new services to Island residents without increasing cost to the local taxpayers and I have track record of being effective and dedicated leader in our community. The county is in much better shape due to the good work I and my team did. I have respect and support of the local leaders and my colleagues. My many years of volunteering activities show that I care about our community and anyone who worked with me can testify to my skills and abilities. A vote for me is a vote for a candidate with the best set of skills to be the next Register of Deeds.

Qualifications

Dukes County manager for past four years, executive assistant to the county manager for the prior four years, giving me eight years of experience at the executive level of the county. In my current role I am responsible for several county departments with in depth knowledge of what it takes to run county department (Registry of Deeds is a county department) including budget process, personnel and management aspects of the operations. I am also in charge of the Dukes County Courthouse which houses the Registry, giving me intimate knowledge of the challenges of the Registry offices and the building.

• Real estate paralegal and title examiner in Edgartown for five years. I have been working at the Registry of Deeds on daily basis.

• Notary Public since 2001.

• Real estate broker’s license.

• Title insurance company training.

• Supervisory leadership program from Collins Center for Public Management, University of Massachusetts (Boston)

• Law degree from Charles University, Prague.

Importance of Registry

The Registry of Deeds is the depository of all land related transactions. It preserves documents that are vital to prove people’s claims to land and related interests, liens, mortgages, discharges etc. It also preserves subdivision plans and surveys. Any homeowner on Martha’s Vineyard and Elizabeth islands has vested interest that the Dukes County Registry of Deeds is under proper management and leadership to assure their interests are protected. Lawyers, title examiners and real estate professionals are the most frequent customers of the Registry. I have worked in these capacities and I know what it is that they are expecting from the Registry and what would make the Registry more user-friendly. The Dukes County Registry of Deeds dates back to 1641, making it the oldest department of the county, located at the historic Dukes County Courthouse on Main street in Edgartown. It is an archive of records that are part of the Island history and it is important to preserve. Will appear on general election ballot.