House Republican Press Release

March 7, 2006

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. Frey: Legislature Reappoints Longtime Ridgefield Official State Referee

HARTFORD –State Rep. John H. Frey, R-Ridgefield, announced that on Wednesday, March 1, the State House of Representatives and Senate unanimously approved a resolution naming Romeo G. Petroni of Hamden, to be a State Referee, to serve a term of eight years. Petroni, who now resides in Hamden, was a longtime Ridgefield resident and served locally as probate judge, state representative, state senator and Superior Court judge.

Judge Petroni graduated from Ridgefield High School and lived in town for 60 years. He became town attorney in 1957 and state representative in 1961, serving until 1967. From 1971 to 1974, he was state senator and in 1974, was elected Ridgefield’s probate judge, a post he held for 16 years.

Judge Petroni was very active in Ridgefield and his community service included serving as director of the Boys Club and the Village Bank, trustee of St. Mary’s Parish, and member of the Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, Italian-American Club, and the volunteer fire department. He received many honors, including Rotary Club Citizen of the Year in 1984. Petroni continued to serve as a Superior Court judge until he turned 70 in 1999, when he was named a judge trial referee, a part-time position in which he can be selected to preside over special cases.

“Judge Petroni has given a lifetime of service to the State of Connecticut and the Ridgefield community in particular,” said Rep. Frey, who spoke on the House Floor in favor of Petroni’s nomination. “I am pleased he wants to continue serving as a state referee and that his nomination was overwhelmingly supported by my colleagues in the Legislature.”

Rep. Frey said that he has known the Petroni family since he attended Veterans Park Elementary School with Judge Petroni’s daughter, Marissa.  It was while volunteering as an aide during Judge Petroni’s campaign for the Republican nomination for Governor in 1986 that Rep. Frey said he became well-acquainted with his predecessor.  “I have a great deal of respect for Romeo; his compassion and integrity.  I look to Romeo as a role model as I serve our town,” he added.

According to the non-partisan Office of Legislative Research (OLR), each Supreme, Appellate, Superior, and Common Pleas judge who retires and is an elector and resident of Connecticut is a state referee for the remainder of his term of office as judge. The law gives state referees the authority to act in specific types of cases, including certain divorce and other related cases, sewer assessment appeals, and certain condemnation case.

State Rep. John H. Frey, R-Ridgefield, speaks in favor of the nomination of Romeo G. Petroni as a State Referee on the House Floor on March 1, 2006. Petroni, who now resides in Hamden, was a longtime Ridgefield resident and served locally as probate judge, state representative, state senator and Superior Court judge.