Knox County Republican Committee selects judge of probate candidate

ROCKLAND — Carol Emery of St. George, appointed last month as interim Knox County Judge of Probate by Gov. John McKernan, was selected Friday as the Republican candidate for the position on the November ballot.

The Knox County Republican Committee met Friday night to select a nominee for the unexpired term of former Judge Barry Faber, who resigned. Emery received 31 votes from the committee, to 15 for Anita Volpe, a local lawyer. Volpe, along with two other candidates had sought the committee’s endorsement to McKernan for the interim appointment. Emery also had received that vote of support.

Emery will be opposed by Steven Peterson of Camden in the November election. Peterson was the unanimous choice of the Knox County Democratic Committee in a caucus held July 10, Chairman Ronald Melendy said Sunday. He had been the only candidate who had expressed interest, Melendy said. Peterson had been the unsuccessful candidate for the position in attempts to unseat Faber. In 1988 Faber defeated Peterson 10,333 to 6,183.

Melendy said that he expected an interesting campaign between Emery and Peterson. Experiences gained in the last two campaigns should assist Peterson in his election try this year, Melendy said. Attempts to contact Peterson Sunday were unsuccessful.

Emery said she was “elated” at the endorsement she received and that she was looking forward to a lively campaign. Although this would be her first attempt at public office, Emery is no stranger to political campaigns. She is the wife of David F. Emery, the former U. S. Representative, who is the Republican congressional nominee facing Democratic senator Thomas Andrews of Portland in the 1st Congressional District in the November election. Carol Emery had assisted her husband with past campaigns as well as other candidates for national office.

She said that she planned to actively campaign for the probate position and would visit areas of the county where she was not as well known. Emery, 38, is a law graduate of George Washington University in Washington, D. C. She worked for a congressman before joining a Washington law firm. She moved to Maine two years ago and has been engaged in a solo law practice.

Peterson has been an active practicing lawyer in Knox County for several years. He has gained a reputation over the past few years as one of the top criminal lawyers in the area, having represented several defendants charged with murder.