GREATER SPRINGFIELD — Focus Springfield and Reminder Publishing had hoped to collaborate on a debate between the two candiates for Hampden County Register of Deeds.

Republican Marie Angledies consented, but Democrat Cheryl Coakley Rivera declined citing both prfessional and personal obligations.

Reminder Publishing decided to ask both candiates the same four questions about their qualifications and plans for the office if they are elected. The answers are below.

Cheryl Coakley-Rivera

What is motivating your run for this office at this time?

Public Service is a privilege. Professionally, I saw an opportunity to serve in this particular position for which I was uniquely qualified. Personally, I believe that homeownership is the American Dream.  The Register of Deeds should stand as the protector of one of our most valuable assets.  

Please explain how your experience in both public and private sectors have prepared you for this position.

My professional experience which includes being a practicing attorney at both the State and Federal level, for over 20 years, my service with the District Attorney’s Office and a State Representative, and for the last five years as Superior Court Clerk, uniquely qualifies me for this position.  

The Register of Deeds is an administrative job with very specific recordkeeping duties. Do you intend to change the boundaries of the position? If so, how?

Record keeping is one of the primary responsibilities of the Register.  Of course, that will continue.  However, my intention is to modernize, decentralize and maximize the role of Register of Deeds.  

With the explosion of technology, I intend to incorporate state of the art technology that is available to enhance customer service and optimize tax payer dollars.

It is time to decentralize the Registry of Deeds.  The public should not be inconvenienced by being required to travel to Springfield, pay to park and go through the maze of the court house to conduct their business.  My intention is to serve ALL the citizens of all 23 cities and towns in their communities by establishing local offices in their towns.

Equally vital, I intend to expand the current role of the Register of Deeds by including regular workshops, seminars and information sessions which would include such topics as Reverse Mortgages, the importance of a Homestead Exemption and awareness of the real estate scams that are so prevalent in todays society.

There has been concern about the fate of the current professional staff.  With the election of the new Register, will they be retained or will there be a new staff?

If I am fortunate enough to serve as the Register of Deeds, my first order of business would be to evaluate the current fiscal operation and meet with each member of the staff and listen to their ideas, their suggestions and their recommendations.  Based on all collected information, changes will be made as needed.  

Marie Angelides

What is motivating your run for this office at this time?

I decided to run for Register of Deeds because I believe it is important for the democratic process that all positions have competitive races. Women are underrepresented in elected office My qualifications and experience are perfectly suited for this position, so I felt it was right for me to put my hat in the ring. “If you complain about something and you do not step forward to make the changes, I believe you are part of the problem.”

My years on the Longmeadow Select Board have been challenging and very fulfilling. I have found that real reforms and solutions begin in local government. In dealing with healthcare costs, pension expenses, or even problems with energy or trash - solutions can be found and implemented at the town level. I have also discovered is the significance of collaborating with other towns and cities.

The Register of Deeds is one of the last remaining offices that reflect traditional county government. The office is crucial in protecting our property rights and to ensure the smooth transition of property ownership. The Register can also be a leader in providing regional solutions to common problems. The Registry is rich in resources that should be shared with the local towns and cities: data, program information, and revenue. I am excited about the possibilities of working together with regional municipalities to find solutions to problems such as over dependence on property taxes, inaccurate valuations, decreasing property values in some neighborhoods, and a regional shortage in market rate and affordable housing.

It is somewhat of an oversimplification, but I am running because I feel it is the right thing to do.  I am clearly qualified and I I know I will make a positive difference to the people of Hampden County as well as the taxpayers of the Commonwealth.  I have the business background, civic experience, community involvement, and leadership skills to run this office. That is why it is so important that voters choose me, the qualified candidate, rather than the career politician.

I am running to serve the people, not for prestige, or to pad my pension and pocketbook. As you already know, I will not take a public pension.  Public service was intended to help and serve the people, and not intended to be a career choice for politicians who may not be qualified but have mastered the art of campaigning. I hope to effect positive change in Hampden County and to leave a positive imprint long after I am gone. For example, by NOT taking a state pension, the taxpayers of the Commonwealth will save over a million dollars.  My opponent on the other hand, would substantially increase her pension, costing the Commonwealth hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Municipal pension expenses, especially as they pertain to career politicians, are an important issue that should be highlighted in this contest.

I would like to elaborate on why I am committed to run “at this time.” Since I pledged to run in January, the nature and character of the race has changed substantially.  Obviously, the most significant and saddest event was the untimely death of the incumbent, Mr. Donald Ashe Sr.  This is no longer a contest between a longtime incumbent and challenger.  Rather, it is now an open competition between myself and a career politician, and emphasizes the need for the right candidate: One who will serve for the sake of service and not for political and personal gain. I am that candidate.

I am very concerned that my opponent may not be committed to serving the people of Hampden County, but rather to increase her salary and prestige. She left a position as state representative to move into a job in the courts, which she obtained through political connections, not experience and qualifications. This position was a substantial increase in salary from her position representing her district. If she takes the salary Mr. Ashe earned after 34 years, it will be another substantial raise. This is another indication that she is a career politician, not a public servant.

Most egregiously, she openly admits to having a convicted felon, Frank Keough, as an integral part of her campaign and in her court office which holds classified criminal and personal information.  It should be noted that he was convicted of crimes against the poorest and most vulnerable of our citizens. This was a moral and legal offense that exploited the very people my opponent claims she wishes to serve. My opponent is fully aware of this component of his character. (https://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/08/frank_keough_clerk_office.html)

Further adding to the questionable decisions of my opponent is her repeated failure to declare substantial expenses made by her campaign on her campaign finance reports and consequently the source of the funding of those expenses. Previously, in 2015, she made a withdrawal of her Representative campaign fund.  This withdrawal was for $2,006.13 for “undeclared banking fees.” She also made a withdrawal that same day for banking fees of $16 which depleted the funds in that account.  If this were a legitimate expenditure, which is questionable, that would mean she had not accurately reported her finance account for over 10 years.  The Register of Deeds is too important an office to be held by someone who is not transparent and who cannot be accountable to report a small campaign budget. The budget of the Registry is $1.7 million and $15 million flows through the office every year.

In 2017, my opponent pulled papers for city council.  She did this claiming this prior to realizing it was a violation of ethics for her to maintain her clerk position at the court. (https://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/08/cheryl_coakley-rivera_withdraw.html)

It was subsequently determined to be an ethics violation for her to maintain that position.  She withdrew.  Her actions were uninformed and she subsequently chose not to run as although she claimed to want to serve the people, she preferred to maintain her clerk position as it had a much higher salary.  

In Longmeadow, I have worked closely with the Audit Committee to annually improve oversight, internal controls, and to steer the town to adopt and implement GFOA best practices on their $61 million budget. Longmeadow has won awards the past few years for transparent and accountable budget reporting that reflects the best practices in the industry.

Sadly, that is not all that lends to a lack of transparency on the part of my current opponent. It should be noted that my opponent has refused my challenge to debate and offer the public an opportunity to hear these issues discussed fully and frankly. This is most unfortunate, and does not serve the public cause.

For these many reasons, I confidently claim the mantle of the person best qualified to serve as Register of Deeds. The Registry of Deeds needs a new leader that is a business manager and a practicing attorney, not a career politician. The Registry needs a leader who brings best practices in budgeting, and knowledge of audit controls to protect tax dollars. The Register of Deeds must be transparent, accountable and not beholden to political operatives. The staff at the Registry is excellent, hardworking and their jobs should never be at risk due to political favors.

Please explain how your experience in both the public and private sectors have prepared you for this position.

When I first moved to Massachusetts in 1984, I became the Business Manager for a multi-physician medical practice (PGNWM). For 12 years, I managed employees, provided customer service, and oversaw the IT systems. I learned the importance of employment and contract law. I negotiated contracts and implemented policies.

Due to the complexities of the office, I decided it would be valuable to get a law degree. Returning to school with three small children was challenging, but exciting. My legal studies at Western New England concentrated on tax and business law. During my clerkship with Judge Swords at the Springfield Juvenile Court, I fell in love with litigation. My years litigating in numerous courts taught me the significance of organization of facts and documents, as well as the critical importance of correct filings.

In 2006 I retrained myself in immigration law. My current private practice concentrates in family immigration, representing and litigating for legal immigrants who want to come here lawfully. My clients become functional members of society and ultimately receive their citizenship.  This process reflects the very essence of the American Dream. Should I get elected, however, I plan to dissolve my private practice to allow me to devote all of my time and energy to the needs of the office.

The Register of Deeds position is my next logical step. The Registry of Deeds matters.  It manages property ownership records for all of Hampden County.  The office is NOT about partisan politics, but about competency, experience and commitment. I am not only the best qualified but the only qualified candidate.

I have been successful in many diverse settings: As an Immigration attorney I have successfully steered my clients through the complexity of our immigration laws to help them start new lives in our area. As a member of the Select Board I have seen new and innovative projects to completion, to the betterment of our community.

Some of my accomplishments include:

• Leading the Town Manager Search Committee

• Member of the Joint Technology Taskforce

• Reforming how we pay for Retiree Health Benefits

• The Complete Streets Program, -Adoption of a Municipal Vulnerability Plan Program

• Leading the Longmeadow mitigation negotiations with MGM

•  Development (and Chairing) the Energy and Sustainability Committee

• Liaison to the Counsel on Aging and the new Senior Center Project

My legal degree, my experience as a litigator, my work in administrative law, my years in management of a multi-physician medical office, and my years on the Select Board make me uniquely qualified to hold the position as Register of Deeds. What makes me different from my opponent is the variety and depth of my experience and my ability to get the job done. I have managed people and supervised staff at a consistently successful level. This election is not about partisan politics or just getting the job. It is about doing the right thing for Hampden County and doing the job.

My education and experiences both personally and professionally have literally been preparing me to be the ideal candidate for this position.  I have been a practicing attorney for over 22 years representing and supporting children and family members throughout the county. I am a member of the Real Estate Section of the Hampden County Bar and have learned that with recent changes in law in other jurisdictions, the Register of Deeds is vital to the protection of our property rights in Massachusetts. With remote closings in other states and acceptance of e-notarization in other jurisdictions, extra care must be taken that property transfers follow Massachusetts’ laws. We need to work closer with other Registers across the Commonwealth to ensure a uniform approach to these difficult issues.

My eight years on the Longmeadow Select Board, and as chair, have provided me with the necessary municipal experience required to effect change.  It has also provided me a working knowledge of community needs. I know the financial problems our towns and cities are facing, with several of the towns facing the tax ceiling, looming problems with OPEB, and inadequate pension funding. They need help to find alternate revenue sources. The Register can provide the vital data and consultation needed to provide that help. Further, there are opportunities to provide additional revenue to localities in Hampden County (see below).

Under my leadership, The Select Board has moved important building projects like the DPW and new Adult Center from planning to implementation. The Energy Committee I initiated has just finished an audit of our municipal buildings. We are working on a recommended plan for improvements. The Committee, at my suggestion, has begun an organic recycling project linking the school cafeterias and the Forest Park Zoo which I am very proud of. We are helping residents with saving on their energy costs in conjunction with the Grinspoon Project and Solarize Longmeadow. I am on the Tax Ceiling Task force and the Scantic Valley Healthcare Cooperative Board. I began the Complete Streets Program in Longmeadow. The repairs on Converse Street  is our first project. I was on the MGM negotiation team as chair. A new project is I would like to develop is a program to landscape our common areas such as Longmeadow Street, the Town Green, and our small neighborhood greens and triangles.

The Register of Deeds is an administrative job with very specific record-keeping duties. Do you intend to change the boundaries of the position? If so, how?

The Register of Deeds needs to be more than an administrative job. The Registry is the final guardian protecting your deed. The changing world of cyber fraud, multi-jurisdictional closings, and the use of block chain infrastructures for internet transactions now requires the Register to stay informed and proactive.

The Registry has also had a very important public education component. When new legislation is enacted to protect property rights, such as changes in the Homestead Act, the Registry has taken the lead in educating the public. I believe there is more information that the public needs regarding liens, mortgage fraud, cyber security, and financial literacy. I would like to see more outreach to the community on these issues as well as using the website to be a reference for the public to find available programs and information on all of these topics. This include even small changes such as the use of google ad words.

Another area the Registry is responsible for is archiving of our historic documents. I would like to make this material more accessible on the internet and work with other Registries to find the best methods to protect our local history for the generations to come.

There has been concern expressed about the fate of the current professional staff with the election of a new register? Will they be retained? Or will there be a new staff?

My many years of management has taught me many things.  Among the most important:  whenever a new manager comes into a position, their greatest resources include the people who have been doing the job for years.  Those are the people who know the intricacies involved. Having spoken to employees who work there and also the consumers that utilize this office, it is my devout belief that the people currently in place are knowledgeable, and proficient at their job.   It would truly be an error in judgement to go into the position planning on making changes to the current staff.

The Register of Deeds must be cognizant of the difficulties the staff will have transitioning to a new leader after 34 years at the same time as the scheduled implementation of the new software program. I have the experience, ability, and commitment to handle these transitions and to support the great staff at the Registry.  

Brief Background
My maiden name was Metaxas. My father’s family immigrated from Greece and settled in Greenfield, MA.  My mother’s family came from Chicago but originated in Ireland.  I myself was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. My husband Tass is a physician at Bay State Medical Center. My collegiate experience included attendance at   Deree Pierce College in Athens (Year Abroad), Mt. Holyoke College, and graduation from Barnard College (Columbia University) Cum Laude.  I earned a Master’s degree in history from SUNY Stony Brook.  My thesis was Capitalism in the Early Mediterranean. In 1985 I became the business and office manager for a multi-physician medical practice. Subsequently, I earned my legal degree from WNEU. After graduation from law school in my 40s, I litigated child abuse cases in the Holyoke and Springfield courts. In 2004 I undertook further training in immigration law, and earned recognition as an AILA certified attorney.  Since then I have appeared and litigated in Family, Probate, and Federal Court. I remain a member of AILA and am also a member of REBA. In 2011 I won election to the Longmeadow Select Board, where I have twice served as Chair.