FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2014
Contact:  Matt Dunlap
207-626-8400

Secretary of State Dunlap Declares Vacancy in Somerset County Judge of Probate Office

Vacancy to be Filled at Special Election on November 4th

AUGUSTA, MAINE – Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap announced today that the Judge of Probate vacancy in Somerset County will be filled at a special election to be held in conjunction with the General Election on November 4, 2014. This vacancy was created by the resignation of John Alsop earlier this year.

In the Vacancy Declaration, Secretary Dunlap explained that the Maine Constitution and the Maine Revised Statutes provide that, in the event of a vacancy in the office of Judge of Probate caused by the resignation of the incumbent, a new Judge of Probate must be chosen at the next biennial election.  The new Judge of Probate will serve for the remainder of the original term or until December 31, 2016.

Dunlap further indicated that because the Somerset County Charter requires that all county officials, except District Attorney, be elected in a non-partisan election and appear only on the General Election ballot, nomination petitions for this office have been made available.    Candidates may qualify for placement on the special election ballot by submitting a minimum of 300 signatures and a maximum of 400 signatures of registered voters in Somerset County. Any registered voter, regardless of enrollment status, may sign the petitions. Candidates may obtain nomination petitions from the Elections Division in the Department of the Secretary of State or from the Somerset County Office.  The candidate must also complete and submit a “Candidate’s Consent”. The petitions and consent must be submitted to the Elections Division on or before 5 p.m., August 4, 2014.

Additional information is available by calling the Elections Division at (207) 624-7650.