Markeshia Ricks Photo
Cordero, Carchia, Graves at this week’s Democratic convention.
A candidate for probate judge has decided to end his quest for the position, while another has decided to press on.
Attorney Orlando Cordero said Friday that he will bow out of the race to finish the last year of New Haven Probate Judge Jack Keyes’ term after Keyes retires in 2018 after 32 years in the job.
Cordero was one of three Democrats this week seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the position. After two ballots, the convention granted the endorsement to city prison reentry chief Clifton Graves Jr.
Cordero, a Hill native, said he decided after much “thought and prayer” to end his quest for the position.
A third Democrat, Americo Carchia, said Friday he has decided to challenge Graves in a Sept. 12 party primary. That means he has to collect 1,850 signatures of registered Democratic voters by Aug. 9
“It is a large task, but I have some ground support working with me, and I’m hoping I can convince some of the other ward people to come work with me as well,” said Carchia, who asked anyone interested in helping to contact him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Whoever emerges as the Democratic candidate will face Republican Melissa Papantones in the Nov. 7 general election.
Click here for a full story on Graves’ candidacy, here for one on Carchia’s candidacy.
Probate judges serve four-year terms; the position pays an annual salary of $125,000. Candidates are required to live in the district where they serve. And whoever ultimately wins the seat will have a year on the job before having to stand for election again to run for a full four-year term. The probate court deals with adoptions and custody cases. It also can sort out what to do with an estate after someone has died and how to protect the rights and money of people who are elderly and physically infirm.