Diverse group seeks judgeships
| By Elaine Silvestrini, Tampa Tribune, Fla. | |
| McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
In all, 12 candidates will appear on the ballot, competing for four open circuit court seats and one contested county court post. Two of the circuit judge elections are three-way races.
In the four contested circuit judge races:
Former
Former state Rep.
Former prosecutor
At the county court level, there will be one competitive race.
All the judicial candidates are practicing lawyers and by law, all run without party affiliation, although at least two, Dingfelder and Scionti, have histories of political involvement as Democrats -- Dingfelder as a party activist and Scionti as a state House member.
Judicial candidates are restricted in their campaign activities, limited mainly to talking about their qualifications and experience and barred from talking about how they might rule on issues.
The judicial candidates will appear on
Here are profiles of each candidate with campaign contributions as of
Group 8
Age: 57
Education: B.S.
Family: Married to
Professional experience: 25 years civil and criminal litigation; currently self-employed attorney; previously worked as a lawyer for
Political experience: Elected to
Why vote for him: "Seeking election to the bench is a natural continuation of my many years of public service in this community. After 25 years of practicing law and almost two decades of community service, I believe I have the maturity, intelligence, integrity, temperament and life experience to make an excellent circuit court judge."
Campaign contributions:
Bar poll results: 40 percent of 343 voters highly approve; 40 percent approve and 20 percent do not approve.
Website: www.dingfelderforjudge.com
Age: 54
Education:
Family: Married to Yvette. Daughter, Vanessa.
Professional experience: Practiced law 27 years, representing thousands of clients and trying hundreds of cases in court.
Political experience: None. Why vote for him: "With nearly 30 years of legal experience inside the courtroom, I bring a unique and seasoned perspective to the bench. As a practicing attorney, I understand firsthand just how important it is that judges be fair and impartial, honest and trustworthy, courteous to all litigants in their courtroom."
Campaign contributions:
Bar poll results: 69 percent of 272 voters highly approve; 28 percent approve and 3 percent do not approve.
Website: www.HinsonForJudge.com
Age: 61
Education: B.A. biology and chemistry education
Family: Married to
Professional experience: 30 years practicing law, primarily civil. Served as managing attorney of a legal services office; special counsel to the
Political experience: None.
Why vote for her: "I seek judicial office in the spirit of service to this community and I have a proven long-standing record of service and community leadership. Working as a judge will allow me to utilize my talents and skills to their highest potential."
Campaign contributions:
Bar poll results: 41 percent of 278 voters highly approve; 37 percent approve and 22 percent do not approve.
Website: www.TwineThomasforJudge.com
Group 19
Age: 45
Education: J.D.
Family: Married 10 years to Zsuzsanna, a pediatric physician in residency at Tampa General and All Children's hospitals.
Professional experience: Private practice since 2006; judge advocate
Political experience: State representative,
Why vote for him: "I have spent my entire legal career protecting the rights of others in and out of the courtroom, on and off the battlefield, and throughout all branches of government."
Bar poll results: 63 percent of 356 voters highly approve; 33 percent approve and 4 percent do not approve.
Campaign contributions:
Website: www.sciontiforjufge.com
Age: 45
Education: Attended
Family: Married eight years to
Professional experience: Prosecutor with 6th Judicial Circuit,
Political experience: None
Why vote for him: "I have the hands-on experience of having worked in a variety of legal areas, all governed by
Campaign contributions: one
Bar poll results: 18 percent of 55 voters highly approve; 58 percent approve and 24 percent do not approve.
Website: www.electbranniganforjudge.com
Group 20
Age: 58
Education:
Family: Parents Marguerite Summers Stanley and the late
Professional experience: Started as assistant state attorney 1989. Promoted 1996 to division chief of Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit. Promoted to
Political experience: None.
Why vote for her: "As a fifth-generation
Campaign contributions:
Bar poll results: 59 percent of 295 voters highly approve; 33 percent approve and 8 percent do not approve.
Website: www.karenstanleyforjudge.com
Age: 34
Education:
Family: Married to
Professional experience: Law clerk to
Political experience: None.
Why vote for her: "Serving the citizens of
Campaign contributions:
Bar poll results: 60 percent of 438 voters highly approve; 33 percent approve and 7 percent do not approve.
Website: www.laurawardforjudge.com
Group 34
Age: 54
Education:
Family: Married 18 years to
Professional experience:
Political experience: None; nominated for circuit court judge and county court judge by the
Why vote for him: "I have the most experience of any candidate in Group 34 with nearly 29 years of legal experience in criminal law, as well as civil litigation and trial work in a vast variety of areas of practice."
Campaign contributions:
Bar poll results: 57 percent of 317 voters highly approve; 40 percent approve and 3 percent do not approve.
Website: www.votebauman.com
Age: 47
Education:
Family: Engaged. One son. Mother is a retired hospice nurse and father, recently deceased, served in the Korean War with the
Professional experience: Worked in the office of former State Attorney
Political experience: None.
Why vote for her: "I bring a diverse background and perspective to the bench. Although I'm not the longest licensed attorney in Group 34, I have the most extensive variety of legal experience. My humble background makes me relatable; hence I can meet people where they are at."
Campaign contributions:
Bar poll results: 16 percent of 101 voters highly approve; 45 percent approve and 40 percent do not approve.
Website: www.voteconstancedaniels.com
Age: 45
Education:
Family: Parents Sandra Spoto Polo and
Professional experience: Sole practitioner since
Political Experience: None.
Why vote for her: "I possess the necessary background, temperament, personal attributes and work ethic to be a good judge and to effectively manage a courtroom while treating everyone who comes before me with dignity and respect." Campaign contributions:
Bar poll results: 46 percent of 219 voters highly approve; 41 percent approve and 14 percent do not approve.
Website: www.melissapoloforjudge.com
County court group 12
Age: 45
Education:
Family: Married to Lisa, nurse anesthetist at Tampa General. Two daughters, Cailin, 10, and Ashlin, 8.
Professional experience: Member of
Political experience: None.
Why vote for him: "Since graduating law school, the courthouse has been my second home. I have spent my entire career in the courtroom and understand the intricacies of running an efficient and effective docket, as well as the importance of a fair, impartial judiciary."
Campaign contributions:
Bar poll results: 22 percent of 254 voters highly approve; 47 percent approve and 30 percent do not approve.
Website: www.NormanCannellaforJudge.com
Age: 42
Education:
Family: Married to Amy. Sons Eli, 9, and Charlie, 6.
Professional experience: Private practice 16 years; at Akerman Senterfitt, focused mainly on business litigation, also did business, estate planning, probate, corporate and real estate transactions; in 2004, joined a college friend and formed Leavengood & Nash, which grew from two to 20 employees and focused on business and bankruptcy litigation;
Political experience: Nominated last year to the
Why vote for him: "I have the unique perspective of having represented large corporations, insurance companies and financial institutions in the first part of my career, followed by a practice primarily representing consumers and small businesses in the latter part of my career."
Campaign contributions:
Bar poll results: 77 percent of 430 voters highly approve; 22 percent approve and 1 percent do not approve.
Website: www.chrisnashforjudge.com
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