by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
In a little over two weeks, voters will head to the polls for the Sept. 5 primary where they’ll vote for everything from governor to local school board member. There will also be four judicial seats up for grabs — three Circuit Court and one County Court.
Twelve local attorneys qualified to run for the four seats and outside of the legal community, most have little name recognition. Exactly how they will inform you, the voters, is a tricky proposition. Due to strict election laws that govern judicial races, the list of what a judicial candidate can’t talk about is likely longer than the one they can.
The Daily Record sent all 12 candidates the same question — there are a little over 530,000 registered voters in Duval County. How do you plan to let them know who you are?
Their answers are as follows:
“Having never run for election before, I’m surprised there are so many different strategies as to what is the most effective way to reach the voters. They range from TV, to print media, billboards, yard signs, radio, mailings, etc. There are probably as many different strategies as there are candidates in the race. My days are spent talking to my supporters, working with the Fraternal Order of Police and the Jacksonville firefighters, both of which have endorsed me, and attending as many meetings with voters as possible. I believe it’s important to meet, one-on-one, with the citizens I’ll serve as circuit judge.”
— Teresa Hunnewell-McCaulie, Circuit Court, Group 35
“Meeting people door-to-door, neighborhood-to-neighborhood, and my television spots. My main idea is personal contact as much as possible.”
— Jeff Morrow, Circuit Court, Group 33
“There may be only 530,000 voters in Duval, but there are nearly 686,000 in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. What characterizes my campaign is the same thing that makes me different from many candidates. I’m trying to meet as many of these 686,000 voters as I possibly can. I want to talk to them one-on-one and understand them and their situation. I want the voters I meet to know from personal experience that, as a Circuit Court judge I will treat everyone with dignity and respect because, as a person, I can’t do anything else.
Yes, this is hard work, and it’s taking lots of time and energy. But things that are worthwhile always take time and energy. And there can be nothing more worthwhile than serving my community.
I’ve been an Assistant State Attorney for almost 18 years, and have been in the courtroom nearly every day. I know what it takes to keep our judicial system moving in an efficient, timely manner. And I’m ready to take on the responsibility of the bench.
Since it’s not possible to meet every one of the voters, I’m hoping that the many community leaders and organizations that endorse me will help tell my story. So far, I’ve been endorsed by: the Fraternal Order of Police, Jacksonville, the Fraternal Order of Police, Clay County, the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters, the Ironworkers Local Union, 597, Sheriff John Rutherford, Sheriff Rick Beseler, Sheriff Tommy Seagraves Jr., former Sheriff Nat Glover, former Mayor and President of the University of North Florida, John Delaney, former Mayor and member of the Duval County School Board, Tommy Hazouri, former Mayor Jake Godbold, several members of the Jacksonville City Council, a number of business and civic leaders, and a host of local attorneys.
These two approaches are being supplemented by a modest television campaign and a Web site, www.senterfitforjudge.com, that I am urging voters to read.
In short, I’m using every vehicle available to reach the voters. But at the end of the day, the one thing that I’m counting on is the intelligence of the voter, the commitment of my volunteers, and shoe leather.”
— Libby Senterfitt, Circuit Court, Group 33
“Daily I am meeting with civic groups, church congregations, community leaders, members of the Bar, homeowners associations, and voters on the street. Additionally, I am attending candidate forums and screenings. Direct mail will follow within the next two weeks.
Word of mouth and responding to requests for information (email: [email protected]) has proven to be very effective. My position against judicial activism and my decision not to accept any campaign contributions from lawyers and law firms has resonated well with other attorneys, the business community and the public.”
— Wes White, Circuit Court, Group 34
“As you know, we have some real time constraints on this campaign. Despite that, I am engaged in a grass roots effort to meet as many of the voters as I can. I feel it is necessary, as a judicial candidate, that the voters have a chance to hear my views, and more importantly, to express their views to me.
It has been a whirlwind of community groups, organizations and private gatherings since I jumped into this race. In meeting with these groups, I find myself becoming much more informed about the expectations of the people of Jacksonville towards the judiciary. In addition to the normal mass media, I am targeting specific areas of Jacksonville through print media and plan to use on-line outlets to get my message out to the voters. I continue to be pleasantly surprised by the support of the people I meet once they learn of my broad background in many areas of the law. These contacts support my view that the people of Duval County want judges with the experience to deal with many kinds of issues who can relate to the difficulties the average person faces in the legal system.”
— David L. Thompson, Circuit Court, Group 34
Unlike a regular campaign, the Judicial Canons prohibit judicial candidates from letting the voters know what we ‘stand’ for. To do such could lead to a disqualification in the race or a potential recusal on the bench. I am using typical methods to reach the voters with an emphasis on personally meeting and talking with as many people as I can about my campaign and my experience. I have been endorsed by the Jacksonville firefighters and rescue workers and with them I think it is important in my race to let the public know that I have virtually double and triple the years of legal practice, knowledge and life experience of my three opponents. I have practiced all fields of law, both civil and criminal, in Traffic, County, State, Federal, and Appellate Courts in Duval, Baker, Clay, St. Johns, Nassau, Volusia, Orange, Leon, and other counties throughout the state of Florida. I have an extensive history working with civic and charitable organizations.
This can be seen from my bio posted on my Web site: www.kevinsanders.com. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly and armed with this knowledge and experience, I am readyto take the bench to make a difference for the people of Duval County.”
— Kevin Sanders, County Court, Group 17
“Over the last, two months, I have conducted an active, grass roots campaign. It has been an honor to personally meet with Duval County voters and convey my campaign’s message, ‘Respect for People, Respect for Justice.’ I am fortunate that I have many volunteers who have helped me communicate my message.
As election day nears, I plan to continue meeting as many voters as possible while launching a media campaign.”
— Virginia Norton, County Court, Group 17
“Having presided over 12,000 hearings as a Family Law Magistrate, General Master and Hearing Officer and having worked with hundreds of families, my message is that I have made the tough decisions and a vote for me is a vote for experience, passion and common sense. My campaign is using every form of advertising to get that message to the voters of Duval County. With only a few weeks left in the campaign, I am focusing my efforts on meeting and spending as much time as possible personally talking to voters.”
— Steve Combs, County Court, Group 17
Four candidates did not respond for this story: Dawn Hudson, County Court, Group 17; John Merrett and Jack Bettman, Circuit Court, Group 34; and Dan Wilensky, Circuit Court, Group 35.