York County Democrats will caucus Oct. 10 to choose candidates to fill the unexpired term of York County Probate Judge Bryan Chabot, who is leaving his elected post Oct. 6 to take up an Administrative Law Judge position with the Maine Workers’ Compensation system. TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune

ALFRED – The York County Democratic Committee will caucus on Oct. 10 to recommend candidates to fill a vacancy for York County Judge of Probate to Gov. Janet Mills.

The committee is asking interested registered Democrat attorneys to submit information to the committee by Oct. 1.

The vacancy is created because the sitting judge, Bryan Chabot, is resigning his elected position, effective Oct. 6.

Chabot, who took office on Jan. 1, 2017, will take up an appointment as an Administrative Law Judge for the Workers’ Compensation system. He informed York County Commissioners of his decision last month.

Chabot’s term expires Dec. 31, 2020. An election in November 2020 will determine who will serve in the position when the new, four-year term begins on Jan. 1. 2021.

State Sen. Mark Lawrence, an attorney who is advising the York County Democratic Committee on the process, said that in the interim, the governor may fill the vacancy created by Chabot’s resignation until the new term begins by appointing a judge from recommendations submitted by the county committee of the same political party as the departing judge.

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“Obviously the committee is looking for someone interested in becoming the candidate for 2020,” said Lawrence.

Sometime later this year, York County will have a new Judge of Probate. York County Democrats will caucus Oct. 10 to choose names of candidates to send to Gov. Janet Mills. The Governor will choose a successor to Judge Bryan Chabot, who is leaving to become an administrative Law Judge. TAMMY WELLS/Journal Tribune

Chabot, a Democrat who has a law practice in Sanford, won a three-way race for the seat in the November 2016 election, beating former Probate Judge Robert Nadeau and candidate Bernard J. Broder, both Independents, for the part-time judgeship.

The probate court handles family matters ranging from adoptions to guardianships of incapacitated adults, wills and estates, names changes and the like.

Lawrence said candidates for the probate judge position must be licensed to practice law in Maine, live in York County, and be registered to vote and enrolled in the Democratic Party.

Only sitting members of the committee will vote on one or more names to recommend to Gov. Mills, he said in a statement issued by York County Democratic Committee Chair Nancy Stolberg.

According to  a pay scale for new elected officials approved by York County Commissioners on Dec. 4, 2013 and reaffirmed  on Sept. 4, 2018,  the maximum annual salary noted for the part-time judgeship is $45,000. However, county commissioners reserved the right to consider a salary above the ceiling  “in order to recognize unique accomplishments of the official in his or her career, to recognize expertise in management, an individual’s overall experience that supports exceeding the ceiling or other factors unique to the official’s career and achievements.”

The YCDC will meet at 6 p.m. Oct. 10 at Conant Chapel of Alfred Parish Church, 8 Kennebunk Road in Alfred, to recommend candidates.

Lawrence said interested Democratic attorneys are asked to submit a cover letter and resume by Oct. 1 to Pam Fenrich at pamfenrich@gmail.com for distribution to York County Democratic Committee members prior to the caucus meeting.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.

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