Mary Olberding

Mary Olberding, Democrat, is running for Register of Deeds, Hampshire District. A proud resident of Hampshire County, Olberding lives in Belchertown, where she is Vice-Chair of the Finance Committee. Volunteering her time, she helps manage the budget during these difficult economic times.

“Because my commitment to the local community is strong,” Mary says, “I recognize that the Register of Deeds in Hampshire County is a role that offers an opportunity to serve and protect the interests of every property owner through dedicated, capable leadership.”

Finishing first in her graduating class, Mary received her M.A. in Human Resource Management from Emmanuel College in Boston in 1994. She received her B.A. in History from Xavier University in her native Cincinnati, Ohio in 1989.

Work Experience

Mary’s professional experience in Human Resources includes managing records and personnel; administrative duties that are well-suited to the responsibilities of the Register of Deeds:

• At Corporate Software in Norwood, MA, Mary successfully managed the database conversion and integration of records, benefits and payroll to a Human Resource Information System (HRIS) for 3000 employees, a skill that will help her as the Registry evolves with new technologies, changing the way it operates in the future.

• At Cross Country Group in Springfield, MA she was responsible for administering all record-keeping and government compliance data for a firm of over 400 employees.

• As Human Resources Manager at Schott Fiber Optics in Southbridge, MA, Mary redesigned the company medical insurance plan, redesigned the compensations structure for 300 non-exempt employees and converted their HRIS database.

In her work environment, Mary has experience managing change for organizations in transition. The Registry of Deeds has evolved from providing only paper records to one with digitized records. It has moved from County government to State control. The Registry of the future will continue to change as we find ways to be more efficient, while providing professional customer service to all its users.

Political Activism

Political Activism

Mary is a life-long champion of Democratic politics.

Her devotion to politics came from her mother, who schooled her in the New Deal and the New Frontier, the political conventions and the Electoral College. Mary’s mother instilled in her a belief that the purpose of government was for the greater good of society.

Mary Makes Inroads in Massachusetts

Mary most recently volunteered for two years on the successful campaign of Dave Sullivan for District Attorney. She served on the Core Leadership Team, Co-Chaired the Fundraising Committee and served as the Belchertown Town Coordinator where she lives. Mary also volunteered for the Hampshire County for Obama campaign and travelled to New Hampshire to work on John Kerry’s Presidential campaign.  She has been an elected delegate to the State Democratic Convention for the past five years and was a volunteer at the 2008 National Democratic Convention in Denver.

Mary has also been active in her community through her Democratic Town Committee, and on several local campaigns.

Mary was appointed to the Belchertown Finance Committee volunteering her time since 2009, first as Clerk and now serves as Vice-Chair.

Because of her interest in public service, she enrolled in the Emerge Massachusetts class of 2011, a political leadership training program for Democratic women. She now serves on the Alumnae Committee for Emerge.

Hearing impaired since birth, Mary was recently appointed to the Massachusetts Democratic Party Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities.

Early Activism in Ohio

Mary began campaigning when she was five, one of a brood of siblings her parents loaded in the family station wagon with campaign literature. From neighborhood to neighborhood, they would go knocking on doors to support their candidates in Ohio, where she grew up.

Election Day was a busy time where Mary and her brother and five sisters would work outside the polls, rain or shine. Election night was a family occasion spent watching returns until the last voted was counted.

Politics was spoken regularly and with gusto at the family dining room table. Holiday dinners at her Grandmother’s house meant the discussion was epic. Above the table hung a portrait of Andrew Jackson, founder of the Democratic Party. That portrait now hangs above Mary’s family table and serves as a reminder of the lessons her mother taught her.

Personal Life

Mary Olberding married James Gelinas of Chicopee in 1996, and the two made their home in Hampshire County when they purchased their first house in Belchertown in 1997. They are blessed with three children, all of whom attend Belchertown Public Schools. They have two pet chickens, Chippy and Fluffy.

She is also a volunteer in the Belchertown Schools and with the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts.  In her free time, she likes biking, gardening, painting and playing games with her kids.

As a property owner herself, Mary understands the time and investment that many put into owning and maintaining property, and sees the Registry of Deeds as a place which safe-guards what is for many their most important investment. Her commitment to family and community will ensure her active participation and management of the Registry of Deeds because it is imperative to the function of the Registry that the integrity of property records be maintained.

According to Mary, “Jim and I choose to call Hampshire County home. I cannot imagine a more diverse or beautiful place to raise our kids.”  If elected, Mary says, “I will work tirelessly to fulfill the needs of property owners in this County, protecting their greatest investment: the place they call home.”