from staff
Eight lawyers are running in three contested elections for seats on the Florida Bar Board of Governors, while another 20 other attorneys — including two newcomers — have been elected or re-elected for two-year terms beginning in June 2008.
The Bar Board of Governors will have contested races in the Ninth, 11th and 17th Circuits.
In the Ninth Circuit, Seat 3, William Hancock II and Scott R. McMillen, both of Orlando, filed to succeed retiring board member Warren Lindsey.
In the 11th Circuit, Seat 7, John H. “Jack” Hickey, Jorge A. Mestre, and Mark Romance, all of Miami, filed to replace retiring board member Ben Kuehne.
In the 17th Circuit, Jay Cohen and Keith T. Grumer, both of Fort Lauderdale, filed to replace Jesse H. Diner.
In the uncontested races, newcomers Clay Schnitker, of Madison, took the Third Judicial Circuit, Seat 1, and William J. Schifino, Jr., of Tampa, the 13th Circuit, Seat 1. Schnitker replaces retiring board member Greg Parker and Schifino replaces retiring board member Tim Sullivan.
Incumbents re-elected without opposition were:
• Stephen H. Echsner of Pensacola in the First Circuit, Seat 1
• Dominic M. Caparello of Tallahassee in the Second Circuit, Seat 2
• S. Grier Wells of Jacksonville in the Fourth Circuit, Seat 1
• Andrew B. Sasso of Clearwater in the Sixth Circuit, Seat 1
• Charles Ebbets of Daytona Beach in the Seventh Circuit, Seat 1
• Mayanne Downs of Orlando in the Ninth Circuit, Seat 1
• Robert M. Brush of Lakeland in the 10th Circuit, Seat 1
• Ramon A. Abadin of Miami in the 11th Circuit, Seat 1
• Ervin A. Gonzalez of Coral Gables in the 11th Circuit, Seat 3
• Dennis G. Kainen of Miami in the 11th Circuit, Seat 5
• Clifford W. Sanborn of Panama City in the 14th Circuit, Seat 1
• David C. Prather of West Palm Beach in the 15th Circuit, Seat 1
• Scott G. Hawkins of West Palm Beach in the 15th Circuit, Seat 3
• Allison K. Bethel of Ft. Lauderdale in the 17th Circuit, Seat 1
• Clifton A. McClelland, Jr., of Melbourne in the 18th Circuit, Seat 1
• Laird A. Lile of Naples in the 20th Circuit, Seat 1
• Ian Comisky of Philadelphia in Out-of-State, Seat 2; and
• Brian D. Burgoon of Atlanta in Out-of-State, Seat 4.
Bar members in circuits with contested board races will have the option of voting by mail-in paper ballot or via the Internet. The Bar’s election company, Election Services Corporation, will mail ballots in time to arrive in Bar members’ office around March 1. It will contain instructions for voting either by the paper ballot or online, which will require the member’s name and a PIN. The instructions will include an online address where members can cast their electronic votes.
All votes must be received by Elections Services Corporation by midnight, March 21, and results could be certified by noon on Monday, March 24. If any runoffs are required, that balloting will run from March 31 to April 23.
The Bar’s 52-member board consists of the president and president-elect, the president and president-elect of the Young Lawyers Division, representatives elected by members of the Bar from each of the state’s 20 judicial circuits, four out-of-state representatives elected by Florida Bar members who reside outside of Florida, and two public members appointed by the Florida Supreme Court.
The Board of Governors has exclusive authority to formulate and adopt matters of policy concerning the activities of the Bar, subject to limitations imposed by The Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. The full Board of Governors meets bi-monthly. Learn more about the Board of Governors and to view a current listing.