Judge Of Probate Special Election Day Breakdown

Voters in Stonington, Groton, Ledyard and North Stonington go to the polls today, to elect either or as the next Southeastern Connecticut Regional Probate Court Judge.

The two Stonington attorneys won the and have spent the past eight weeks running civil, friendly campaigns that sought to of a judge of probate and what the newly regionalized court means to residents.

Kepple and Janney both grew up in the area, have years of legal experience dealing with probate matters and are committed to making sure the regionalized court system doesn’t lose its community feel.

“The biggest challenge is trying to maintain the same level of accessibility,” Kepple said of the regionalized court system.

If elected Kepple said he hopes to spend a good deal of time in all four towns, set up a website for the regional court to improve accessibility and hold forums on different probate matters such as estate planning.

“You can make a difference in people’s lives by serving in government,” Kepple said.

Both candidates have credited their families for teaching them about about community service and instilling in them a desire to help others.

“It’s really a desire for me to help other people,” Janney said on his reasons for seeking the position.

If elected Janney said he hopes to continue to educate residents of the probate court system, hold office hours at libraries on the weekends and to have one evening a week with a staffed probate court office so residents would not need to take time off of work to deal with probate matters.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for either one of us,” Janney said.

Today’s August 16, special election comes after the March 2011 death of Southeastern Connecticut Regional Probate Court Judge Fred Palm Jr. The court, located in Groton, serves the towns of Stonington, Groton, North Stonington and Ledyard, and handles matters including adoptions, wills, estates and guardianship.

Information is listed below on voter eligibility, poll opening and closing times, poll locations and when to expect results:

Voter Eligibility: All registered voters from the towns of Stonington, Groton, North Stonington and Ledyard are eligible to vote. 

Time: Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Locations For Stonington Residents:

• District One votes at the at 100 Main St., in Stonington Borough.
• District Two votes at the at 33 Liberty St., in Pawcatuck.
• District Three votes at at 35 Deans Mill Rd., in Stonington.
• District Four votes at the B.F. Hoxie Engine Company at the at 34 Broadway Ave., in Mystic.
• District Five votes at the at 49 North Stonington Rd., in Old Mystic.

Locations For Groton Residents:

• District One votes at the Groton Public Library at 52 Newtown Rd., in Groton.
• District Two votes at West Side Middle School at 250 Brandegee Ave., in Groton City.
• District Three votes at the City Municipal Building at 295 Meridian St., in Groton City.
• District Four votes at the William Seely School at 55 Seely School Drive in Groton.
• District Five votes at the Charles Barnum School at 68 Briar Hill Rd., in Groton.
• District Six votes at the School Administration Building at 1300 Flanders Rd., in Mystic.
• District Seven votes at S.B. Butler School at 155 Ocean View Ave., in Mystic.
• District Eight votes at the Town Hall Annex at 134 Groton Long Point Rd., in Groton.

Locations For Ledyard Residents:

• District One votes at the Ledyard Center School at 740 Colonel Ledyard Highway in Ledyard.
• District Two votes at the Juliet W. Long School at 1854 Route 12 in Gales Ferry.

Locations For North Stonington Residents:

• Eligible voters vote at Old Town Hall at 40 Main St., in North Stonington.

Results:

Polls close at 8 p.m. and results, once announced at Town Hall, will be posted on Stonington-Mystic Patch, on our Facebook page, and tweeted.