Paulo DeOliveira, 32, is a resident of Edgartown and a native of Brazil. He moved from Brazil to Boston at age 15, and moved permanently to Martha’s Vineyard 11 years ago.

He has served in various capacities at the registry of deeds, including clerk, information technology manager, and assistant register to retiring register of deeds Dianne Powers, the position he currently holds.

He and his wife Justine have two young children. He is a volunteer firefighter and EMT for the town of Edgartown. He currently serves as the chairman of the town’s financial advisory committee.

He is running for office as a Democrat, after defeating three other candidates in the Democratic primary.

“It’s something I’m interested in, I’ve worked hard for,” Mr. DeOliveira said. “I’m passionate about it. I’m well versed in the day to day operation of the office, but also behind the scenes. I’ve worked closely with Dianne, to work on many things, between the budget, training new employees, doing payroll, managing the tech fund.”

Mr. DeOliveira said his background in information technology has been valuable in working at the registry of deeds, as the office works to get more records online.

“I’ve worked closely with Dianne, she’s done a fantastic job of upgrading what we have now. I was responsible for implementing electronic recording at the registry. I worked with the Secretary of State. Two years ago it was mandated that all registries would be able to accept documents electronically. If something breaks, I know what to do. We’ve saved a lot of money because I can do a lot of the stuff myself.”

He said he has begun work on getting grantee/grantor index books online, which would provide a way to search for people who documented land records, and provide a location of those records either online or in physical books at the registry office.

“Other registries have that,” Mr. DeOliveira said. “I have started that work. Ninety per cent of those books are already scanned. Some of the ones not scanned yet need to be done professionally. those books have to be sent off.”

Mr. DeOliveira said he would like to expand accessibility to the public, beyond making more records available online. “The issue wouldn’t necessarily be in making documents accessible, as that is already happening, but rather in teaching the public how and where to access what they need,” he said. “That is certainly something that can be done through a variety of outreach and informational sessions both online and in person. I have run one such session with the assessors from every Island town to help them become more familiar with and better access what is currently available online.”

He also said he hopes to provide more service for people who use the registry at the noon hour. Currently, recording stations close for a period in the middle of the day to accommodate staff lunch breaks.

Mr. DeOliveira stressed that the registry is an independent agency with an elected register of deeds accountable to voters.

“We are a county office,” he said. “There are a handful of county registries in the state. Most of them are taken over by the state. It’s important to note it’s an office that is fully managed by the register of deeds, not the county manager. I am the only candidate with experience working for the registry.”

Mr. DeOlivera lists 38 endorsements from elected officials and community leaders on his campaign website, including outgoing register of deeds Dianne Powers, and 26 local attorneys.

“Those are meaningful endorsements. They are from people that actually use the registry,” he said.