Attorneys vie for open Dutchess Surrogate Court seat
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> Attorneys Tom Mansfield and Michael Hayes will face off in Tuesday’s election to become the next Dutchess County Surrogate Court judge.
The two will vie for the position now held by Judge James Pagones, who is retiring from the bench.
Mansfield, 59, is a Red Hook resident and former Dutchess County legislator.
A Democrat, Mansfield will also hold the Working Families line on the ballot.
Hayes 50, is a LaGrange resident and currently sits as a LaGrange town justice.
He is a Republican who also holds the Conservative, Independence, Reform, Women’s Equality and Green party lines.
Hayes has been rated “highly qualified” by the Independent Election Qualification Commission.
According to the commission, Mansfield did not apply for a rating.
The Surrogate’s Court judge serves a 10year term. Surrogate’s Court handles matters involving estates, wills, trusts, guardianships and adoptions. The position carries a annual salary of $135,800.
According to his website, Mansfield is currently a partner in the law firm of Mansfield, Gautier & Rosenthal LLP, where he handles trust and estate administration and litigation, guardianship issues, real estate matters and commercial litigation.
He began his legal career as an assistant corporation counsel in New York City, and served one term on the Dutchess County Legislature, representing District 20 seat in 2008-09.
Mansfield holds a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and a law degree from New York Law School.
He and his wife, Miriam Altshuler, have two adult children.
Hayes has been a judge in the town of LaGrange since 2014 and has been law clerk to Dutchess County Judge Peter Forman since 2012.
According to his website, from 1997 to 2011, Hayes was a private practice attorney focusing on litigation and municipal law, and is a former prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
Hayes holds a bachelor’s degree from Iona College and a law degree from Albany Law School.
He and his wife, Michele Schwegel Hayes, have two daughters.