About Eileen

Eileen Duff, daughter of the late Mary Galluzzi Duff and Paul Duff, is a native of Peabody, MA where she was raised in a politically aware and active family. Duff interned twice in the Massachusetts State House, and later on Capitol Hill for Congressman Nicholas Mavroules while she was a student in Washington DC. She holds a Master’s Degree in Management and a Doctoral Degree in Ministry. 

Eileen received a Presidential appointment from President Clinton to work as Confidential Assistant to Commissioner Rachelle Chong at the FCC in Washington, where she won many awards for public service. She chose to return to Massachusetts to be closer to her family and currently resides on Cape Ann. Eileen previously worked for the Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston as a Chaplain and is a supporter of the Grace Center in Gloucester which helps houseless people.

After six terms as a Member of the Massachusetts Governor’s Council, Councilor Eileen Duff has announced that she is a candidate for Essex County Register of Deeds in 2024.

Eileen has served on the Governor’s Council after being elected in 2012. Over the last eleven years, she has worked closely with the Patrick, Baker, and Healey administrations to ensure that the justice system in Massachusetts is responsible, fair, and equitable for all in the Commonwealth. 

“I’m proud of what I have been able to accomplish while a Member of the Governor’s Council,” Duff said. “I worked across the aisle with Democratic and Republican administrations to bring fairness and common sense into the Massachusetts justice system. I look forward to earning the support of Essex County so I can continue that work as Register of Deeds.”

Eileen is uniquely qualified for the position of Register as she has served as a Realtor for over two decades and, owing to her service as Governor’s Councillor, is an expert on the Massachusetts court system. Duff has worked at the intersection of housing, the courts, and public policy for years. As Councilor for the fifth Governor’s Council district, Duff has long represented most of Essex County. 

About the RegistRY of Deeds

The Registry of Deeds is one of the most important and vital systems in our Commonwealth and economy. The Registry receives and records hundreds of thousands of documents each year, and is the basic resource for title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities, homeowners, and others with a need for secure, accurate, and accessible historical and modern land record information. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has 21 separate Registries of Deeds, each functioning in districts dealing with real estate registration and land records. The Register oversees all the daily activities of all the Real Estate filings, as well as tracking various other documents pertaining in some way to Real Estate transaction. It is essential that the Register of Deeds have not just have a strong undertanding of Real Estate and how transactions take place and get filed, but also has an excellent comprehension of the interseciton of public policy and law in an industry that drives the national economy, with the ability to lead and work alongside a team of professionals.

PLATFORM

I was raised in a family where I was encouraged to take action and be part of the solution. My father was active in local and state democratic politics and my mother worked both in the State House for Governor Herter, and later in the U.S. Capitol for the Eisenhower Administration. Both my parents led by example. My youngest sister Terri had Down Syndrome. When she was born, there were few or no resources providing education and support for children with special needs. Instead of accepting that fact, my mother led others in the community to form the “Peabody Parents of Children with Special Needs.” Their leadership and determination to help others in the community allowed for policy change that created tangible benefits for all students. That attitude and drive is what I bring with me when tackling the issues facing constutients dealing with Registry issues.

I’m proud of what I have been able to accomplish while a Member of the Governor’s Council, I have worked across the aisle with Democratic and Republican administrations to bring fairness and common sense into the Massachusetts justice system. I look forward to earning the support of Essex County so I can continue that work as Register of Deeds.

With your vote, I want to continue being part of common sense solutions for residents in the Southern Essex District.

Great Customer Service

Great Customer Service all starts at the top and is visible when folks come into the Registry and need help. Essex South Registry of Deeds has a great team, and I am excited to work with them, to listen and expand on making the Registry user friendly for all. I will pledge to continue to offer top tier services, including indexing, recording and maintaining land records which can be complex and difficult to navigate. The goal is to always be inclusive and accessible to all. I hope to continue the great customer service attitude of “How May We Help You?”

ISSUES OF CONCERN

It is vital that consumers are aware how to protect the titles and deeds to their properties. This can be acheived through expanded education and outreach in all of the 30 communities served by the Southern Essex Registry of Deeds. The Registry of Deeds is one of the most important and vital systems in our Commonwealth, receiving and recording hundreds of thousands of documents each year. As a basic resource for title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities, and homeowners, it is critical for the Registry to be secure, accurate, and accessible. I am proud that I have always used my position to advocate for policies that benefit the cities and towns in my district. As a user, I have a strong understanding of the Registry, and of the intersection of public policy and law in an industry that drives the national economy, and I make a practice of staying current with cutting edge technologies that will impact the Registry in the future. The digital landscape is growing, and we need to be agile and prepared to preserve the integrity of our records for the future.

Peace. Love. Duff.