Incumbent judge ahead in elections Dunleavy in probate post since 1976

PRESQUE ISLE – Incumbent Aroostook County Probate Judge James Dunleavy seemed headed for victory Tuesday over a primary opponent seeking to keep him from another term in the office he has held for nearly three decades.

With 43 of 72 towns in Aroostook County reporting their voting results Tuesday night, Dunleavy was ahead of Robert Michaud, a Fort Kent attorney, by a vote of 715-521.

From the beginning of the evening, when results started to come in, Dunleavy was leading. His edge grew bigger with each town reporting.

A Democratic primary race rarely happens in Aroostook County.

Richard Rhoda of Houlton is running as a Republican in the fall.

Dunleavy has been in the position for 28 years. Michaud, a retired Fort Kent attorney, is seeking to oust Dunleavy, believing 28 years in office is long enough.

Probate Court judges are the only judges in Maine who are elected.

Michaud, 67, is a former member of the board of trustees of the Fort Kent Utility District and a former member and chairman of the SAD 27 board of directors. He is a member of the Fort Kent Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge, the Anah Shrine Temple and was the municipal attorney in Fort Kent for years.

Dunleavy, 64, has been a probate judge since 1976. He is looking for his eighth term. He won the seat against Republican James Carr in 1976, and has never before been opposed for re-election.

He is a military veteran, and a member of several local and statewide clubs and agencies. He is a member of the National College of Judges of Probate and a member and past president of Maine Probate Judges Association.

He is also a former state representative, former Democratic chairman in Aroostook County, and a losing candidate for the U.S. Congress. He failed in a bid for the Maine Senate in the last election.

Last year, Dunleavy challenged and lost a Maine supreme court decision when he appealed a Committee on Judicial Responsibility and Disability conclusion that claimed he violated a state code of conduct for running for office and for soliciting $5 contributions to run as a publicly funded candidate while he was a judge.

Dunleavy said he wants the job because it’s public service.