Probate Judge Contest Is A Rematch Of 2021 Special Election: Republican Carrier vs. Democrat Rivera

By John McNamara

Attorney and former Common Council Leader William Rivera won the Democratic Party’s endorsement for Judge of Probate last week setting up a rematch of last year’s special election won by Attorney Michael Carrier. Convention delegates from Berlin and New Britain nominated Rivera without opposition.

In accepting the endorsement Rivera acknowledged Carrier, who attended the May 12th Democratic convention held at Casablanca (the former St. Jean Baptiste Society Hall) on Smalley Street. “I don’t have a problem with Mike running on the other side, but he is running on the other side. I consider him a friend.” Rivera added, however that “we need to come together so that our agenda is the one we’re talking about because the Republican agenda talks about taking away women’s rights” and opposes actions that help working people and those who are struggling. Thanking delegates, Rivera said he was proud to be running with the city’s Democratic state legislative delegation who are effective advocates for Berlin and New Britain at the state Capitol. Rivera has been an attorney for more than 30 years in New Britain at the Rivera Law Group and served on the Common Council as Majority Leader.

Attorney Carrier is completing the remainder of longtime Probate Judge Walter Clebowicz’ term and is seeking election to a full term in the November State Election having registered his campaign committee as the incumbent Republican in April. The long-serving Clebowicz ended 30 years on the bench upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 last October.

Carrier, a partner at New Britain-based Weber, Boiczyk, Carrier & Chace, LLP, surprised Democratic Party officials last year by suddenly changing his party affiliation to gain the nod of Republicans in Berlin and New Britain after Mayor Erin Stewart asked him to accept the GOP nomination for Probate Judge in balloting that coincided with the municipal election.

Earlier in 2021 Carrier wrote to Democratic Party convention delegates and addressed the Democratic Town Committee asking for support as a Democrat. He was widely presumed to have the edge in getting an endorsement but switched parties.

Attorney Carrier, a steady financial contributor to Democratic candidates, told the New Britain Progressive last June that he was only getting luke-warm support among Democratic delegates he contacted. “I was really disappointed at the reception I was getting,” said Carrier, who then accepted Erin Stewart’s outreach to join the Republicans after “being welcomed with open arms.” Carrier indicated he switched parties bowing to the wishes of Berlin Republicans, a strategy that worked with Republican victories in the local elections.

The 2021 Probate contest involved a Democratic Primary for the special election between Rivera and Attorney Bob Scalise when Rivera became the Democratic nominee but lost to Carrier in a city election with a record low turnout and heavy Republican support from Berlin. Scalise opted not to run this year.

Carrier, having been sworn in as Probate Judge last January, recently signaled to Democrats a desire to get the Democratic endorsement or at least to be cross endorsed by both parties. That overture included a hefty contribution to the Democratic Town Committee but netted Carrier no delegate support at this month’s Probate convention.

Probate District Judges are the only judicial posts elected by popular vote in Connecticut every four years. But since 1991 voters in Berlin and New Britain got accustomed to re-electing Clebowicz without much if any opposition for seven terms. Now they’ll get to choose their Probate Judge for the second time in less than a year.

The Berlin Probate Court, located at One Liberty Square, includes Berlin and the City of New Britain and is one of 54 Probate districts in the state. 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.