Campaign Season Begins for Probate Candidates

With the primaries behind them and the November elections ahead, both candidates vying to head the new Northern Fairfield County Probate Court are ready to hit the campaign trail in earnest.

But the contest for the probate judgeship, by both accounts, will be a gentlemen's race.

"Talking to people in Ridgefield, I've learned how iconic Judge Egan is and how well respected he is," said Democratic candidate Tim Holian, 56, a Newtown attorney. "I really look forward to an energetic campaign and think the new regional court will be served well by either one of us."

Joe Egan, who won Tuesday's three-way Republican primary to head the four-town consolidating probate court—there is currently a court each in Ridgefield, Redding, Bethel and Newtown—said he did not know Holian but they may have crossed paths during his four decades of practice.

Besides a lack of negative sentiment, Egan and Holian share another commonality: they both feel qualified to preside over the consolidating court that will serve about 78,000 residents.

Last year, the state legislature pared down the number of probate courts from 117 to 54 in an effort save money. The new regional court will be situated in Bethel and will pay its probate judge about $100,000.

Egan was the runaway winner of Tuesday's primary against Moira Rodgers of Newtown and Bethel's Daniel O'Grady. Holian was unopposed.

Egan, who has lived in Ridgefield since he was 10 years old, has been involved in the Connecticut Probate Assembly and is one of  two judges from the Nutmeg State to have served as president of the National College of Probate Judges.

Holian says he's qualified to hold the position because of his 27 years as a practicing attorney specializing in wills and estates. He serves as attorney Trial Referee for the Danbury court system. Holian is also no stranger to politics—he served on Newtown's Legislative Council for almost a decade and was also a member of Newtown's Conservation Commission.

Holian also said he's willing to give up his Newtown law practice to devote all of his time to the regional court. Meanwhile Egan, 63, pledged that the probate court will continue to be his top focus ahead of his practice. There is no state statute that precludes a probate judge from engaging in a separate practice of law.

As the election cycle goes into full steam in the coming weeks, Egan says he'll actively campaign in all four communities as he did during the primary, underscoring that the new position of overseeing a larger court requires the experience he possesses.

Holian admits that Egan will be a tough opponent but is ready to embark on the campaign trail that encompasses four towns.

"I am a traditionalist and plan on going to going door-to-door and meet people, which I really enjoy," he said.