ALFRED — There’s a new entry in the November race for York County Judge of Probate.

Attorney Bernard Broder III, 58, of Old Orchard Beach said he’s in the running as an Independent candidate, bringing to three the number of candidates for the elected four-year term as a part-time judge.

Broder, known as “B.J.,” is one of two Independent candidates in the race; the other is incumbent Judge Robert M.A. Nadeau. Democrat attorney Bryan Chabot announced his candidacy for the judgeship earlier this year. There is no Republican contender.

“I am running for Judge of Probate because I feel that my education, experience and temperament lend themselves to the faithful and impartial performance of the duties of this office,” said Broder in an email. “Probate Court deals with people’s most intimate, ultimate and immediate needs. I believe that my background in child development, theology and law bring critical insight and perspective in matters involving guardianships, adoptions, involuntary commitments as well as trusts and estates.”

Broder, who has spent 17 of his 19 years practicing law in York County, said he has significant experience in dealing with bereavement, children and those challenged by mental health issues and addiction.

“The citizens accessing the Probate Court likely deal with some or all of these issues,” he said.

Broder opened his own law practice, dealing in probate, family law, criminal law and personal injury cases, following a six-year stint as an assistant York County district attorney that wound down in 2005. He previously prosecuted child protection and support enforcement cases in Aroostook County as an assistant attorney general and assistant district attorney .

Prior to becoming an attorney, Broder was a caseworker for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of York County, and later was executive director of Trinity Daycare in Saco. He has earned degrees in human services, child development, theology and law .

He interned at the former Bangor Mental Health Institute as a psychiatric social worker, and at Maine Medical Center in Portland, where he served as chaplain on the oncology floor. He has been a treasurer and board member of the AIDS Project, according to a resume he provided to the Journal Tribune.

A civil rights advocate, Broder said he has volunteered as a trainer for teachers, students and law enforcement in the Attorney General’s office.

Broder said he and his partner of 13 years have volunteered in animal rescue since 2004. Their family includes four rescue dogs.

“If elected, I will assess and prioritize the needs of the Probate Court prior to deciding to what degree, if any I will maintain my private practice,” Broder said.

Chabot, a Wells native and former Wells police officer who is an attorney with the Sanford firm of Saccia, Bartlett & Chabot, announced his candidacy in February. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, served tours of duty in Bosnia and Iraq, and graduated from the University of Southern Maine and the University of Maine School of Law.

“I think the people of York County deserve a functioning probate court free of distractions and controversy,” Chabot said in a February interview.

Nadeau is a former U.S. Army JAG Corps captain, and was educated at Johns Hopkins University and Delaware Law School. A former federal prosecutor, he has a law practice in Biddeford.

Nadeau was elected York County judge of probate in 1997 and served through 2008, when he lost an election that November. He was returned to office by voters in 2012.

In the lead-up to the 2012 race, Nadeau said during his years as probate judge, he pursued and won authority for Maine’s probate courts to impose and enforce child support payable to those serving as guardians for the children of others, decided more than 1,000 cases involving the protection of the elderly and incapacitated, and united more than 1,000 children with new parents and guardians.

The Maine Committee on Judicial Responsibility and Disability recently recommended to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court that Nadeau be suspended for the remainder of his term. The committee found that he breached judicial canons with respect to how he dealt with some attorneys in the probate court and changes to his court schedule. That case is now being heard by retired Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justice Robert Clifford.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has yet to decide a previous case against Nadeau brought by the judicial oversight committee.

Nadeau was censured by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in 2007 and ordered suspended for 30 days for misrepresentations he made concerning his opponent in his 2004 pre-primary election advertising.

As well, he was reprimanded by Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justice Donald Alexander in 2006 for his conduct in his private law practice. A third count was dismissed with a warning. Those complaints were brought by the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.