august 23, 2010

connecticut law tribune 7

On The Ballot
Here are the final match-ups of candidates in Connecticut’s new probate
Fall Ballot Is Filled
districts. Incumbents are marked in bold. More than 10 districts feature two
incumbents squaring off, as the state has reduced the number of districts
from 117 to 54.
With Friendly Rivals
Probate District Democrat Republican Several probate judge races feature two incumbents
Hartford Robert K. Killian, Jr.
West Hartford Sydney W. Elkin By CHRISTIAN NOLAN ting judges are going head to head.
That’s the case in the Litchfield Hills, where
Region No. 3 (Includes Bloomfield,
East Granby, Suffield)
Region No. 4 (Includes Windsor,
Steven M. Zelman Edward G. McAnaney
G iven the hotly contested races for governor,
U.S. Senate and attorney general, most vot-
ers probably aren’t focused on the battles for
12 towns form one district. That election will pit
incumbent Litchfield Judge Diane Blick against
Patrick Wall, the Republican probate judge in
Brian T. Griffin Marianne Lassman Fisher
East Windsor, South Windsor) probate court judgeships. That’s too bad. It’s Harwinton.
East Hartford Allan T. Driscoll likely the only place on the ballot where you Meanwhile, down on the Long Island coast-
might find two incumbents squaring off. line, Republican Joel Helander, the Guilford
Glastonbury-Hebron Peter Jay Alter
In fact, that’s happening in at least nine pro- probate judge for more than 20 years, will run
Newington Robert A. Randich Richard Roberts bate districts across Connecticut, covering sev- against current Madison Judge Phillip Zucker-
Berlin Walter A. Clebowicz Walter A. Clebowicz eral dozen towns. man, a Democrat completing his first term.
Longtime Fairfield Probate Judge Daniel Helander is one of only four current probate
Simsbury Regional David M. Moore Cynthia C. Becker
Caruso, who is also president of the state’s Pro- court judges who are not lawyers who are seek-
Farmington-Burlington Evelyn M. Daly bate Assembly, said many of the judges running ing re-election. Beginning with this election, all
North Central Connecticut Mark J. Maniscalco Timothy R. Keeney against one another know their rivals well. In new probate judges must be lawyers. The other
the past, they might have filled in for each other non-lawyers on the November ballot are Blick,
Ellington O. James Purnell, III O. James Purnell, III when one went on vacation or became ill. Cheryl Brown in Tolland, and David Griffiths
Greater Manchester Michael M. Darby Elaine N. Camposeo “This is the first time you’d have two incum- in Killingly.
bents facing each other,” said Caruso, who is run- Griffiths, a Democrat, edged out Plainfield
Region No. 14 (Includes East Hampton,
Stephen E. Kinsella Jennifer L. Berkenstock ning against Democrat Pamela C. Jones, a first- Judge Kathleen Sendley Barry in one of several
East Haddam, Portland)
time candidate. “Everyone knows each other. We small-town primaries pitting earlier this month.
Middletown Joseph D. Marino expect good sportsmanship on all sides.”
Meriden Brian T. Mahon The elections are the next step in the process ‘It’s Bittersweet’
of reforming Connecticut’s probate court sys- For the newly established Northern Fairfield
Wallingford Philip A. Wright, Jr.
tem. The current 117 districts are being pared to County probate district three Republican can-
Cheshire-Southington Bryan F. Meccariello Matthew J. Jalowiec 54. While many of the old districts were made didates battled for the nomination. Getting the
Region No. 19 (Includes Bristol, up of only one town, most of the new districts – nod was another 20-year veteran, Ridgefield
Andre D. Dorval about 40 in all – have two or more towns. Judge Joseph A. Egan Jr. He defeated Daniel
Plymouth)
With the Aug. 10 primary elections now O’Grady, the current Bethel probate judge and
Waterbury Thomas P. Brunnock
past, the line-ups for the fall races have been Moira Rodgers, the Newtown judge.
Naugatuck Peter E. Mariano Peter E. Mariano set. Roughly 75 percent of the candidates on the “It’s a little bittersweet,” Egan recently told the
Region No. 22 (Includes Woodbury, ballot are current judges. In some cases, they are
John W. Fertig, Jr. Domenick Calabrese running against newcomers. In others, two sit- n See match-ups on PAGE 10
Southbury, Oxford)
Torrington Area Michael F. Magistrali
Litchfield Hills Diane S. Blick Patrick J. Wall
Mansfield-Tolland Claire C. Twerdy Cheryl H. Brown


Northeast Regional Leah P. Shad Stephen Adams
Plainfield-Killingly Regional David A. Griffiths Carol Anne Rowe
Windham-Colchester John J. McGrath Jodi M. Thomas
Norwich Kathryn D. Guinan Chuck K. Norris


Southeastern Corner Regional Frederick W. Palm, Jr. Constantine G. Antipas

New London Mathew H. Greene Mathew H. Greene 
Niantic Regional John W. Butts Jeffrey A. McNamara 
Saybrook Terrance D. Lomme Anselmo Delia 
Madison-Guilford Phillip Zuckerman Joel E. Helander

Branford-North Branford Keith Sittnick Frank J. Forgione 
East Haven-North Haven Michael A. Albis Michael R. Brandt

Hamden-Bethany Salvatore L. Diglio
New Haven John A. Keyes

West Haven Mark J. DeGennaro 
Milford-Orange
Derby
Beverly Streit-Kefalas
Clifford D. Hoyle
John J. Carangelo
George Porter

Shelton Fred J. Anthony 
Danbury Dianne E. Yamin
Housatonic Martin F. Landgrebe 
Northern Fairfield County Timothy J. Holian Joseph A. Egan, Jr. 
Trumbull Amy E. Todisco John P. Chiota 
Stratford Kent M. Miller F. Paul Kurmay 
Bridgeport Paul J. Ganim 
Fairfield Pamela C. Jones Daniel F. Caruso 

Westport Kevin M. O’Grady Jacob P. Bryniczka

Norwalk-Wilton Anthony J. DePanfilis 
Darien-New Canaan Michael P. Murray

Stamford Gerald M. Fox, Jr. 
Greenwich David W. Hopper