In a judge of probate election that already promises to be closely contested, a third candidate is seeking voters' attention. She is Leslie Marcarelli-Naizby, a Madison attorney who gained her spot on the November ballot through a petition rather than a party nomination. She believes her 17 years of legal experience will be a benefit to the job and the community it serves.

This November, because of recently enacted legislation from the General Assembly, the Madison and Guilford probate courts, previously separate, will be combined into a single operation and will be moved to the Memorial Town Hall in Madison. As of Jan. 4, there will be a new Madison-Guilford probate court with one judge of probate. The consolidation has forced an election campaign in which two incumbents-Joel Helander, a Republican and Guilford's probate judge, and Phillip Zuckerman, a Democrat and Madison's probate judge-are facing one another in their re-election campaigns. Both are popular judges and candidates in their respective towns.

Marcarelli-Naizby has chosen to step into this race as a third candidate.

"I have handled probate matters as a part of my legal practice. I have done a lot of work with children in the court system. I like the mediation aspect of the law. These are all parts of a probate judge's role and I believe I would be good at the job," she said.

Working as a full-time attorney for 17 years, Macarelli-Naizby said her experience has included representing individuals and businesses in civil litigation in state and federal courts, handling probate claims, workers' compensation, and a general practice. Her background also includes six months' experience working in the New Haven judicial district's program for alternative dispute resolution. This involved assisting judges as needed in court and coordinating alternative dispute resolution with referees, special masters, attorneys, and litigants. She is a graduate of Quinnipiac Law School and the University of Maryland. She is a member of the bar in Connecticut and Florida and of the federal bar.

The changes taking place now within the state's probate court system "are a good thing," she believes, among them the requirement that future probate judges be attorneys.

"Judges should be appointed or elected based on their credentials," she said

The changing role of the probate court will increasingly require experienced attorneys, she believes.

"The probate court's cases will become more complicated and more challenging," she said. "It will require an attorney with a broad background."

Marcarelli-Naizby points to her experience in the handling of child custody cases and child support cases and service as a guardian ad litum for children within the Superior Court system.

"I have been the attorney appointed by the court to protect the interests of the child. I have also been a juvenile public defender advocating for children's rights," she said.

She and her husband John, partners in their law practice, became attorney volunteers in a truancy intervention pilot project in New Britain last year.

"The project pairs an attorney with a chronically truant student," she explained. "It is a wonderful program and we are working now to establish a similar program in New Haven."

Marcarelli-Naizby also points to her experience with the elderly population and families in crisis. She serves on Madison's Senior Services Commission and was a former commissioner of the Branford Housing Authority.

"Both those groups deal with senior citizens and the issues they face, as well as the issues faced by their families. This volunteer work has given important insight into this population," she said.

She has also drafted wills and helped clients through the probate process.

"I have been through the process myself, when my father passed. I have a lot of compassion, in these situatons and others. I think that is a key attribute for anyone in the position of a probate judge," she explained.

She said the educational component of the job also interests her.

"It seems to be missing," she said. "Not many people are aware of the probate court or what it does and that is an important role for the judge to play, I think."

Among her first concerns, she said, will be unifying the two offices.

"I think the towns are ready for this probate court reform and so am I," she said. "I can bring a fresh perspective, a willingness to serve, and the necessary experience."