Editor’s Note: The Newtown Bee previously profiled the GOP candidate for Probate Judge in July.

BETHEL — Steven Boa DeMoura, a Bethel resident and the Democratic-endorsed candidate for 45th district probate judge, said that he was born and raised in the community he hopes to serve.

The 45th district probate court serves Newtown, Bethel, Redding, and Ridgefield.

As a person who coaches for his children’s sports teams and does work with local nonprofits, DeMoura sees serving as probate judge as another way he can “give back to the community.”

DeMoura grew up in Bethel, where he attended St Mary School, a parochial school, and Bethel High School, where he played soccer. He was an undergraduate student at the University of Rhode Island, where he continued playing soccer on a Division 1 team.

“Being part of a team helped me be successful in the future,” said DeMoura.

He then attended Quinnipiac law school. He and his wife, Kathryn Kilian DeMoura, have three children, Maxwell, 9, Carter, 7, and Chloe, 6. Kathryn Kilian DeMoura was a teacher in Ridgefield for 10 years at Branchville Elementary School before leaving to raise her three children.

DeMoura began his legal career in 2005 as a courier with the Danbury firm of Pinney Payne, PC, before starting his own law firm in 2013. He said he knew it was his “calling” to be an attorney. His own practice was initially a general practice, but has since specialized in real estate and probate cases.

DeMoura said that his time in his own practice gave him the experience needed and put him in “a great position to be a good judge.”

Hoping that he could “continue the good work” he has done in a new role as probate judge, DeMoura said that he will look to make the probate court more efficient, as well as a place that is inviting enough for people to feel comfortable.

“I want people to feel heard and like the decisions are fair,” said DeMoura, who plans to give “efficient and fast” decisions in people’s trying times, as they look to move on after the death of a loved one. “I’ll work hard for the community, they’re dealing with sensitive issues and I want to make it as easy as possible. I want people to be confident they are being taken care of and comfortable that the right decision is being made.”

DeMoura said that being a judge “suits a lot” of what he’s good at.

“I’m a good listener,” said DeMoura, who also noted he has extensive connections and “great relationships” with his fellow attorneys in the area.

“They know me well, they trust me, they know I’m efficient,” said DeMoura. “They know I’ll make sure everything runs smoothly.”

DeMoura said his mother was a special education teacher and his father was a guidance counselor, so he has the “heart of a teacher.”

“I was raised to be community-oriented, to learn and be proud of learning,” said DeMoura. “It has helped me be a good attorney and will help me be a great judge.”

DeMoura is a member and past president of the Greater Danbury Bar Association, a Bethel Economic Development Commission member, and a court appointed attorney in multiple probate courts in Connecticut. He is a past and present member of multiple nonprofit boards, and a volunteer for numerous organizations. Aside from spending time with family, he enjoys helping coach in various local youth sports.

He speaks Spanish and Portuguese.

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Associate Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.