Rivera Endorsed for Probate Judge

Editor’s note: This article was written based on reporting by Frank Gerratana.

New Britain Attorney Bill Rivera has received the endorsement of the Democratic Party Nomination Convention for Probate Judge, with a primary likely.

Democrat Rivera is a former Majority Leader of the New Britain City Council.

Rivera has said that he is seeking the position, “because it allows me to continue to work with all types of issues and people who are often overlooked in our society.”

While Rivera won the endorsement of the Democratic Nominating Convention, local Attorney Robert Scalise received more than the fifteen percent of votes of delegates at the Convention to qualify for a primary.

This would send the decision on the Democratic Party nomination for the Probate Judge seat to Democratic voters in New Britain and Berlin in a September 14th primary.

Anthony Interlandi received the third highest vote total as the Convention.

On June 2nd, John McNamara reported, for the New Britain Progressive, that,

Connecticut Probate Courts, also known as “family courts” because of the nature of cases before them, primarily have jurisdiction over the administration and oversight of trusts and estates, including probating wills and the administration of estates; overseeing testamentary and living trusts; determining title to real and personal property; and determining the meaning of wills and trusts. Judges of Probate are responsible for overseeing court operations but are also allowed to maintain their own law practices.

New Britain and Berlin form the Berlin Probate Court District, the people of which elect a Probate Judge for the Court. The current Judge, the Honorable Walter A. Clebowicz, is set to reach his mandatory retirement age, so a special election has been called for the seat.

On April 21, 2021, Governor Ned Lamont ordered that the special election is to be held on the same day as the regular municipal elections, November 2, 2021. The current term of office for the seat ends on January 3, 2023.

A primary for Probate Judge could set up a vigorous, multi-candidate Democratic primary in New Britain on September 14th. New Britain Democrats also appear likely to have a primary for both Mayor and At-Large City Council.

Rep. Bobby Sanchez (D-25) was endorsed for Mayor by the New Britain Democratic Party’s Town Committee, but appears likely to face a primary challenge for the Democratic nomination from two other candidates — Democratic leader and Mayoral candidate Veronica T. DeLandro and political activist and Democratic candidate Alicia Hernandez Strong. Meanwhile two allies of Strong plan to primary endorsed Democratic candidates for Council.

Local attorney Michael Carrier announced earlier this year that he would be seeking the Republican nomination for the Probate Court position.

Editor’s note (7/28/2021): The article was corrected to note that it was Anthony Interlandi, not Andrew Legnani, who recieved the third highest number of vote. Apologies for the error.