Priscilla for Probate

Thank you

As my candidacy comes to an end, I want to say thank you.

Thank you to all the people who took the time to vote in the primaries on September 16.  Voting is an important right and we should all exercise that right every chance we get.

While I am disappointed with the results, I am proud that I maintained my integrity in the campaign.  I tried very hard to be accurate in every statement I made.  I believed that voters would be more interested in a message of real fiscal responsibility.

I especially want to thank all the people who helped me in this race.  It leaves me with an amazing sense of pride that so many people supported me.  I am truly grateful for their support.

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If it walks like a duck .....

During my campaign for Barnstable County Register of Probate, I have stated that I will not fill the wasteful political patronage position at the court.  Not only is it unnecessary, it is a disgrace to fill the position when vacant entry level positions cannot be filled due to budget restraints.

It has been suggested by the current Register that this is not a political patronage position.  Well, "If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it must be a duck".

The actual language in the Massachusetts General Laws provides that the administrative deputy assistants may be removed at the pleasure of the registers of probate.  That language ensures that each new Register may appoint their own person.  That is a political appointment.

The language of that statute reads as follows:

Chapter 217: Section 23B. Administrative deputy assistants
Section 23B. The registers of probate of the respective courts of the probate and  family court department for the following counties may, subject to the approval of the chief justice for administration and management as to compliance with personnel standards promulgated pursuant to section 8 of chapter 211B, appoint 1 or more administrative deputy assistants; provided, however, that administrative deputy assistants may be removed at the pleasure of the registers of probate. The administrative deputy assistants shall meet the definition of both confidential and managerial employees as those terms appear in chapter 150E and shall perform no official judicial duties.  (See http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/217-23b.htm for the list of counties.)

The position does not exist in every county.

As with any political appointment, the appointee serves the elected official.  A change of elected official usually results in a new appointment.  A new president does not keep the former president's cabinet.  A new governor does not keep the former governor's advisors, and so on down the line.

No matter who is elected as your next Register of Probate, that newly elected Register, pursuant to the statute, may appoint their own person for that position.

The bottom line is that I believe in fiscal responsibility.  I believe that we should not waste taxpayer money on a position that serves at the pleasure of the register of probate, you know -- a political patronage position.  I am the only candidate to pledge not to appoint anyone to that position..

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Would you hire a lawyer if you didn't need one?

Would you hire a lawyer if you didn't need one? I ask that question because, in the race for Register of Probate, that is exactly what my opponent is asking you to do.

There are fourteen counties in Massachusetts. That means there are fourteen Registers of Probate. Eight of the current fourteen, more than half, are NOT lawyers. The president of the registers association, elected by his fellow registers, is NOT a lawyer. Dukes and Nantucket County Registers of Probate are NOT lawyers and do NOT have a lawyer on their staff. With no lawyer on staff, those Registers fulfill all the same duties as all other Registers of Probate.

The Register of Probate, if it happens to be a lawyer, is prohibited from the practice of law. See Rule 3:02 of the Rules of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. http://www.massreports.com/courtrules/sjcrules.htm#3:02

Rule 3:02. Administration of Justice.

(2) All clerks of court, registers of probate, the recorder of the Land Court and their assistants and employees in their offices are prohibited from engaging in the practice of law during the time they hold such office or employment.

The Register of Probate does NOT act as ‘in-house legal counsel' as has been suggested by my opponent. To perform in that capacity, would be a violation of the Rules of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

This is an administrative position. Over 27 years experience in the court, working my way through the ranks from entry level to promotion as Assistant Register of Probate in 1994, give me the unique insight to effectively and responsibly administer the Registry of Probate.

I have been endorsed by court personnel including many of whom have worked with both my opponent and me. They know that I am the better candidate to lead the Barnstable Registry of Probate. Those endorsements include:

Current Register of Probate Sylvia Howard
Probate and Family Court Justice George Asack, Retired
Probate and Family Court Chief Probation Officer Charles LoGiudice, Retired
Assistant Register of Probate Mildred Benjamin Shealey, Retired
Assistant Register of Probate Dayle Hoxie, Retired

For a complete list of endorsements, please visit my web site. www.electpriscillayoung.com

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UNCLAIMED FUNDS

The State Treasurer has been advertising that his periodic listing of unclaimed funds will be published this weekend. I suspect that each and every one of us will peek to see if our name is on the list, or perhaps even look for the names of friends and relatives. Well why not, even Manny Ramirez appeared on the list recently. I'm still looking for my name.

On a smaller scale, the Barnstable Probate and Family Court holds approximately $1.4 million in custodial accounts for unknown heirs or for beneficiaries with unknown addresses. However, the court doesn't issue a periodic listing of those names. There is no public notice once those funds are deposited with the court.

When elected, one of my priorities is to more responsibly maintain those accounts and make those names known to the public.

I will maintain a web site, paid for by me and not at taxpayer expense. I will list those names on the web site in an effort to notify the rightful owners. While it is not the same as publishing the names in the newspaper, it is a start.

These funds are held in passbook savings accounts with area banks. They receive interest, albeit a small amount. Unfortunately, the smaller accounts are assessed a monthly fee, which is more than the amount of interest earned. The result is that the account is slowly depleted by the fees. As the court is the steward of these accounts, I will take whatever action is necessary to stop the assessment of fees.

The Cape Cod Times recently reported on this subject. If you would like to read that article, I have posted it on my web site at www.electpriscillayoung.com.

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Priscilla Young's Endorsements

As a candidate for Register of Probate, I am extremely proud that my endorsements include current and former court personnel, who actually understand the legal and procedural requirements of the Probate and Family Court.

• Current Register of Probate Sylvia Howard, Nantucket
  
• Retired Probate & Family Court Justice George Asack, Falmouth
  
• Retired Probate and Family Court Chief Probation Officer Charles LoGiudice, Falmouth
  
• Retired Assistant Register of Probate Mildred Benjamin Shealey, Brewster
  
• Retired Assistant Register of Probate Dayle Hoxie, Barnstable
  
• Vicki Antonovitch, Yarmouth
  
• Jennifer Barth, Barnstable
  
• Ria Boulay, Barnstable
  
• Martha Braman, Barnstable
  
• Lucy Carty, Barnstable
  
• Jean Crocker, Barnstable
  
• James DeCarli, Bourne (Court Officer assigned to Probate and Family Court)
  
• Samantha Hamilton Dewitt, Brewster
  
• Helen Hazelton, Barnstable
  
• Cathy Emerson, Barnstable
  
• Gail Farrenkopf, Chatham
  
• Martina Higginbotham, Barnstable
  
• Stephanie Kelly, Falmouth (Court Officer assigned to Probate and Family Court)
  
• Chris Gargiulo, Barnstable (Court Officer assigned to Probate and Family Court)
  
• Patricia Lopes, Barnstable (Assistant Chief Court Officer assigned to  Probate and Family Court)
  
• John Maenpaa, Barnstable (Court Officer assigned to Probate and Family Court)
  
• Deborah Nardone, Barnstable
  
• Pamela Piersall, Harwich
  
• Katharine Prunty, Harwich
  
• Myrtle Still, Yarmouth
  
• Deborah Wahl, Yarmouth
• Dee Walkus, Dennis

Visit my web site www.electpriscillayoung.com for a complete list of my endorsements.

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