Voters of nine towns, including Lyme, in central Connecticut will decide on Nov. 4 whether to re-elect Judge of Probate Terrance Lomme of Essex for a second, four-year term or to replace him with Attorney Anselmo Delia of Clinton. The two ran against each other four years ago in 2010 when Lomme won by 419 votes. In the 2010 race, Lomme carried the town of Lyme, along with Chester, Deep River, Essex, Lyme and Old Saybrook while Delia carried Clinton, Haddam, Killingworth and Westbrook.

When Lomme ran against Delia in 2010, he committed that, if elected, he would become a full time Judge of Probate. However, after his election Lomme changed his position and in a recent interview he explained, “I thought the job would require a full time judge. However, once we merged the courts, I realized that it was not necessary to be on the job every minute, when the court is open.” The merger to which Lomme is referring was when the probate courts in nine towns were merged into a single court in Old Saybrook.

In the 2014 campaign, Lomme has been nominated unanimously for re-election for a second term by the Democratic Nominating Convention. The convention cited Lomme’s “invaluable experience” in urging his re-election. The convention also noted Judge Lomme’s pivotal role, “for implementing, successfully, the merger of the nine former town probate courts into a single Saybrook Court District.”

Lomme’s Record as a Judge

Discussing his work over the past four years as a Judge of Probate, Lomme said in a recent interview that he had held over 3,500 hearings since becoming a judge. He also observed  that most Judges of Probate in the State of Connecticut maintain private law practices. As for his current campaign for re-election, Lomme charged that his Republican opponent did not have the necessary experience to do the job. Lomme said that Attorney Delia has had only four cases before the probate court over the past four years.

In addition to serving as a Judge of Probate, Lomme in his capacity as a private attorney has represented a major New York City developer before regulatory bodies of the Town of Essex, including five public hearings before the Essex Planning Commission and another before the Essex Zoning Commission.

The Republican Challenger

Delia, Lomme’s Republican challenger, notes that he has been an attorney for 34 years and has represented legal clients in every federal and state court in Connecticut. Delia cites that he has chaired many important public bodies in his hometown of Clinton, including the planning and zoning commission, the board of education and the Youth and Family Service Bureau.

With regard to being a Judge of Probate, Delia comments, “Four years ago … I promised, as I do now, that if elected I would terminate my private practice and serve as a full time Judge of Probate. My opponent has opted to continue his private practice during his term in office. I believed then, as I believe now, that the office warrants the level of attention and avoidance of conflict of interest afforded by a full commitment.” Delia said, “I am ready to do the job from day one,” adding though, “It may take as much as six months to wind up matters with present clients.”

Bjornberg flanked by State Representative Phil Miller and Essex First Selectman Norman Needleman.

Determined to recapture the state senate seat in the 33rd District, which Democrats held for many years, a united Democratic Party has now fielded Emily Bjornberg, as the party’s candidate. Bjornberg, 32-years-old, is a resident of Lyme, the wife of an Iraq War veteran and the mother of two children, ages 4 and 7.

The basic theme of Bjornberg’s campaign is that the incumbent Republican State Senator Art Linares, although he may be a personable young man, is ideologically out of sync with the residents of the Senate district. That district encompasses 12 Connecticut River towns including Lyme, as well as Essex, Deep River, Chester, Old Saybrook and Westbrook, along with six other neighboring towns as well.

Specifically, Bjornberg faults Linares for: voting twice against raising the state’s minimum wage; being against a reduction in income tax credits for state residents; voting against public school funding; and having the third worst record in the State Senate in supporting environmental legislation.

Democratic Senate candidate Emily Bjornberg in Ivoryton.

Positions that the Democratic candidate mentions in her campaign literature are her support for: increasing state assistance for small businesses; responsible management of state finances; holding the line on local property taxes; standing up for all women and their right to make their own health care decisions; helping every veteran to find work and end veteran homelessness; and, finally, she would, “Protect the environment of our beautiful and unique Connecticut River Valley.”

Tough Race Anticipated

Bjornberg said at a recent campaign event on the Ivoryton Green, “It is going to be a tough race.” Although differing with the incumbent on many issues, she acknowledges that he, “Is marvelous in following up on citizens’ complaints.” However, ideologically, she stresses that she strongly disagrees with many of his Linares’ legislative positions.

As for endorsements of her candidacy, Bjornberg said that former State Senator Eileen Daily, who held the post for over 20 years, has endorsed her, as has incumbent State Representative Phil Miller. Miller said at the recent Ivoryton function that Senator Linares is, “A nice young person, who has no clue as to what is going on.”

Miller also expressed the fear that Republicans would spend enormous amounts of out-of-state money to keep Linares in office in Connecticut. In addition to Miller, attending the Ivoryton event was: Judge of Probate Terrance Lomme, who is running for re-election; Essex First Selectman Norman Needleman and Essex Selectman Stacy Libby.

In her remarks in Ivoryton, Bjornberg noted that her family (the Reynolds family of Lyme) had lived in the region for seven generations and presently runs a local car dealership.

At the Ivoryton event, every seat was taken in the building on the Green and some supporters estimated that as many as 40 people were present to hear what the candidate had to say.

If elected, Bjornberg would become one of 36 members of the Connecticut State Senate. Representative Phil Miller characterizes the 33rd District as, “A grand, sprawling district. “

Also at the event, a supporter mentioned that if she were elected, Bjornberg would be entitled to a low numbered license plate for her car. In response, the Democratic candidate said firmly, “I would never run for office for a license plate.”

A smiling supporter with Democratic Senate candidate Bjornberg.