LIBERTY — When residents in Liberty head to the polls this November they will be voting to fill two vacancies on the town justice court.

It was announced earlier this year that neither Judge Harold Bauman or Judge Kirk Orseck will be seeking re-election to another term. So far, two candidates have thrown their hats into the ring - current Village of Liberty Mayor Ron Stabak and local attorney Troy Johnstone.

“So far it's going well,” Johnstone said about his candidacy. “I've gotten a lot of support from the community, my family and colleagues.”

Johnstone said the role of town justice was always something he wanted to do, although the opportunity came sooner than he anticipated.

“It's a good way for me to give back to the community and leave a positive impact on people,” Johnstone said. “I know there's been issues with the justices being available all the time, so it's a good opportunity for me to be there when I'm needed.”

A Liberty native and lifelong resident of Sullivan County, Johnstone graduated from Liberty Central School in 2013. He went on to study political science and religious studies at Hartwick College and later graduated from Albany Law School.

While in law school, Johnstone interned for the office of the General Counsel for Council 82 (New York State Law Enforcement Officers Union AFSCME, AFL-CIO). Johnstone clerked in the Albany County Surrogates Court for the Hon. Stacy L. Pettit, and was admitted as a limited supervised attorney in the Albany Law School Community Development Clinic.

He currently works as an associate attorney at the law offices of Brian P. Rourke, P.C. in Liberty where he focuses primarily on Residential and Commercial Real Estate, Mortgages, Wills, Trusts, Estates and Estate Administration, Guardianships, Elder Law, Medicaid, Civil Litigation, Landlord-Tenant, Traffic, Municipal, Corporate, and Business Matters.

Besides work, Johnstone, his wife, Kassondra, and their daughter, Caroline, reside in Liberty where Johnstone serves on the Village of Liberty Planning Board, The Liberty Central School District's Wall of Fame Committee and the Town of Liberty Republican Committee.

“Liberty is our home and I don't think that's ever going to change,” Johnstone said.

For the past several years, Johnstone has worked with other community members to maintain Liberty's famous “VanAlstyne Star” which shines brightly over the village every holiday season.

Johnstone has been endorsed by the Sullivan County Republican and Conservative Committees but says, if elected, he'll be a justice for all residents in Liberty. If elected, he said he'd have to resign from the town Republican Committee.

“As soon as you take the bench and assume that role you become an apolitical figure,” Johnstone said. “Any judge that I've talked to that's been in this position say its one of the most rewarding experiences they've had.”