The stories about York County Probate Judge Robert Nadeau’s alleged “retaliation” against the county for refusing to fund more than 64 hours of monthly judicial time are nonsense.
I’m the former county treasurer, familiar with the attitudes of the commissioners. Commissioners Chandler and Dutremble were responsible for a $1.2 million budget deficit just before I became treasurer and ostracized me when I made the public aware of it, forcing me out of office. The deficit was actually closer to $2 million because they had failed to record special funds that should have been set aside for departments, including $200,000 for the Probate Court.
They didn’t understand and support the needs and operations of county government then and it appears that they don’t understand them now.
The average Maine judge is paid $121,000. The national average is $145,000. The county manager, with no educational requirement, receives $121,000 (his predecessor received $71,000). Judge Nadeau receives only $54,000. Judge Nadeau has a 4-year bachelor degree, 3-year juris doctor, several licenses, and extensive post-doctoral education. He works 90 hours, not the 64 per month required in his court, and attends judicial conferences on personal time, all beneficial to the county.
There are no requirements for the county commissioners, register of probate or county manager. Register Lovejoy is paid $74,000 by the county and depends on the probate judge for guidance.
Are the county commissioners attempting to force Judge Nadeau out of office as they did me?
Nancy Auclair
Former York County
Treasurer
Editor’s Note: The author of this letter is Judge Nadeau’s mother.
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