GLOUCESTER — Governor’s Councilor Eileen Duff is officially in the race to replace longtime Southern Essex Register of Deeds John O’Brien, one of the longest-serving elected officials in the state and a former Lynn city councilor.
Duff, who has served on the council since 2012, represents the fifth district, which includes most of Essex County.
In a statement, the Peabody native said she is proud of her accomplishments on the council working with three gubernatorial administrations to “ensure that the justice system in Massachusetts is responsible, fair, and equitable for all in the Commonwealth.”
Serving as register, Duff said, would allow her to continue some of that work.
“I worked across the aisle with Democratic and Republican administrations to bring fairness and common sense into the Massachusetts justice system,” she said in the statement. “I look forward to earning the support of Essex County so I can continue that work as register of deeds.”
As a realtor for more than two decades, Duff said she is uniquely qualified to take on the position of register, where she would oversee the department that is responsible for logging and maintaining real-estate transaction records.
Duff said she worked “at the intersection of housing, the courts, and public policy” for more than a decade on the council and is an expert on the state’s court system.
Regardless of whether Duff is elected as register come 2024 — so far no other candidates are in the race — southern Essex County will see a new face in the office for the first time in more than four decades.
O’Brien, who has served in the role since 1977, plans to retire next month and will not finish the remainder of his term. O’Brien’s early retirement can at least in part be attributed to his health issues — he has been diagnosed with both Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
