Taunton mayor announced as new Bristol County Register of Probate

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker announced the appointment of Taunton Mayor Thomas C. Hoye as Bristol County Register of Probate. A former public school teacher and Taunton City Councilor, Mayor Hoye brings over 25 years of experience serving the local community and Commonwealth. As mayor, he has served on the Governor’s Opioid Task Force and prioritized efforts to support children and families and combat the addiction crisis.

“Mayor Hoye has a strong record of serving the Commonwealth and his community, particularly children and vulnerable populations,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “From his time teaching in the Taunton Public Schools, to his work tackling the opioid epidemic, he has dedicated his career to bettering the lives of those around him and I am pleased to submit his name for this interim appointment to the Governor’s Council for their advice and consent.”

“Mayor Hoye has spent the last 25 years working for local children and families and is well-qualified to take on this new role as Register of Probate,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “I am confident that the Bristol County Probate and Family Court and the people it serves will benefit from Thomas Hoye’s leadership in this capacity.”

“I am grateful to Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito for their faith in me and for this opportunity to serve,” said Mayor Thomas Hoye. “I am excited to be able to continue to work on behalf of the families of Bristol County. This is the work that has made the last eight years of Mayor of the City of Taunton so gratifying. My administration has worked extremely hard in making the City of Taunton a better place to live, work and raise a family. I would like to thank the citizens of Taunton for the honor of serving as mayor of this great city. I am proud of the work we have all done together in improving the City I love. I vow to tackle the role of Register of Probate in the same way I tackled the role of mayor, with passion and integrity. I will work tirelessly to be worthy of the trust of my colleagues and those we serve.”

About Mayor Thomas C. Hoye:

A lifelong resident of Taunton, Mayor Thomas Hoye brings a long record of service to his hometown and the Commonwealth. First elected in 2011, Mayor Hoye has spent his tenure working to improve the lives of Taunton residents, prioritizing investments in public safety, education and economic development, while delivering sound fiscal management. Under Mayor Hoye’s leadership, Taunton re-developed the former Paul Dever School into phases 4 and 5 of the Myles Standish Park to unlock significant private investment, and began construction on a new elementary school and city hall. Mayor Hoye has also focused on leading his community’s response to the addiction crisis, founding the Taunton Opiate Task Force and serving on Governor Baker’s statewide Opioid Task Force. Prior to his election as Mayor, Hoye served on the Taunton Municipal Council for ten years, while also serving as a teacher in the Taunton Public Schools and a certified athletic trainer at Taunton’s Morton Hospital. Throughout his career, he has maintained a commitment to serving his community, remaining active as a coach for youth sports. A graduate of Coyle and Cassidy High School, Mayor Hoye earned a Bachelor of Science from Bridgewater State University and a Master’s degree from Fitchburg State University. He lives in Taunton with his wife and three children.

Bristol County Register of Probate:

The Register of Probate administers the daily operations for the Probate and Family Court. The Register is responsible for maintaining records, overseeing the day-to-day functions of the Court and assisting users in navigating the processes of the Court.

The Probate and Family Court’s mission is to deliver timely justice to the public by providing equal access to a fair, equitable and efficient forum to resolve family and probate legal matters and to assist and protect all individuals, families and children in an impartial and respectful manner. The Probate and Family Court has jurisdiction over family-related and probate matters, such as divorce, paternity, child support, custody, parenting time, adoption, termination of parental rights, and abuse prevention. The Court also handles wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and changes of name. The Court has 14 divisions.

Former Bristol County Register of Probate Gina DeRossi resigned late last year after she was appointed Court Administrator of the Appeals Court by Chief Justice Mark Green. Massachusetts state law provides that upon a vacancy in the position of Register of Probate, the governor may appoint an interim Register with the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council.

Christopher Carreiro who recently announced a possible run at the position, issued the following comments:

“After reading Mayor Hoye’s quotes in the Taunton Gazette from this past Friday, I am extremely surprised to learn that he had intentions of accepting an appointment to Bristol County Register of Probate, on the following business day after ‘vowing’ to run again and serve his community. At this time, I continue to be interested in running for this post.”