Republican voters can go to the polls on Tuesday, Sept. 12, to choose an endorsed candidate for the November election for the judge of probate for the 33rd Saybrook District. Competing for the Republican endorsement on Sept. 12 will be Anselmo Delia, a resident of Clinton who was endorsed by the party convention, and challenger Kevin Hecht, a resident of Old Saybrook.

The Saybrook District Probate Court serves about 62,000 residents of the towns of Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Saybrook and Westbrook. The court has offices and a hearing room on the third floor of the Town of Old Saybrook Town Hall. Probate courts in the State of Connecticut handle legal matters related to disposition of decedents’ estates, conservatorships, and children’s matters like custody and adoption cases.

Incumbent Democrat 33rd Saybrook District Judge of Probate Terrance Lomme retired upon reaching age 70, forcing this special election to fill his slot.

Anselmo Delia

Delia is an attorney who lives and has a private law practice offices in Clinton; he has practiced law for more than 30 years. He has said of his experience that more than 50 percent of his practice in the past decade has focused on trust, estates, and wills, matters related to decedents’ estates handled by probate court. He has committed to discontinue his private practice if elected as probate judge.

Delia’s community experience in Clinton over many years has included service on the Board of Education, the Youth & Family Services Board, and the Charter Revision Commission, and as a member and chairman of the town’s Planning & Zoning Commission.

Delia previously has run for judge of probate of the 33rd Saybrook District against Lomme. Delia’s Facebook page is Delia for Judge of Probate.

Kevin Hecht

Hecht is an attorney who has been in private law practice in Connecticut for 32 years. He describes himself as having extensive expertise in probate court matters, having appeared in many Connecticut probate courts and having handled hundreds of cases. He has served as a special master in Connecticut Superior Court for family matters and appeals.

He cites his community leadership and volunteer service as including time serving as chairman of the Board of Governors for Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston, chairman of the Trial Commission and judge advocate of the Grand Lodge of the Connecticut A.F.&A.M. (Freemasons), and president of the UConn Law School Alumni Association.

Before earning his law degree in 1985 from UConn, Hecht was a Connecticut state trooper, trained as an accident reconstructionist and scuba diver.

Hecht has a private practice in Cheshire. Hecht’s Facebook page is Kevin Hecht for Judge of Probate.