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Dear Editor,

I am proud to endorse MICHAEL CROLL for Probate Judge in the Democratic Primary on Tuesday, August 9th.

I have known Mike and his family since the 1970s when I was a Hartford Times paperboy and they were on my route on Beechwood Road.

In the 1990s, I worked with his mom Bette on Progressive issues and political campaigns such as Miles Rapoport for Secretary of the State. I know Bette has passed along her strong dedication to economic and social justice to her son.

More recently, I have worked with Attorney Croll on state and local Democratic campaigns. He gets his hands dirty doing the tough work of going door-to-door talking with voters. He is a hard-working advocate for people and causes he believes in.

Why should you care who our Probate Judge is? I can tell you why from firsthand experience.  Several years ago, when my mom died, my family had a difficult time resolving her estate – very normal in such stressful situations.  Our current Probate Judge Syd Elkin did an outstanding job of listening, mediating and resolving my family’s disputes. Based on my personal experience, Attorney Croll has the empathy and the people skills necessary to reach consensus whenever possible. Attorney Croll will be a strong voice to do what is right and who will protect those who are vulnerable and who need a voice in the many challenging cases that Probate Judges must decide. Last year, Attorney Croll’s peers in the Connecticut Probate Assembly gave him their Pro Bono Award for his work in representing families with difficult probate cases who could not afford to pay Attorney’s fees.  That is dedication to justice when it counts the most.

Attorney Michael Croll will be an excellent successor to Judge Elkin in serving West Hartford residents with Probate matters.  I urge my fellow Democrats to join me in voting for him.