by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
“It has been a tremendous honor to serve the citizens of Clay, Duval and Nassau counties,” said State Attorney Harry Shorstein as he announced Tuesday that he will not seek a sixth term.
He was appointed in 1991 by Gov. Lawton Chiles and has been elected to four terms.
Shorstein said he made the decision about a month and a half ago.
“For a month, I stayed at the beach and walked miles and miles with my dog,” he said. “When you live at the beach and nobody is bothering you, you really can think more clearly.”
He said he has been asked about his plans for the past year and added, “The true answer a year ago was that I didn’t know, but in politics, you’re not supposed to say that.”
Shorstein made another point about the political aspect of being the State Attorney.
“One thing I despise about politics is fundraising,” said Shorstein. “I’ve always joked I’d rather have a root canal every day than beg people for money to allow me to put my picture on TV, but that’s politics.”
His supporters had assured him that raising as much as $1 million for his campaign would not have been a problem. Shorstein — who would have been up for re-election in the fall of 2008 and recently drew opposition from former employees Angela Corey and Audrey Moran — said with everything in place, the final issue was did he want to seek another term.
“My answer, ultimately, was that it wasn’t, so the decision was made,” said Shorstein, adding he’s proud of his accomplishments and those made by the people who work in his office. “The most important function for the State Attorney to perform in my judgment is to establish credibility and integrity in the criminal justice system. I think we’ve done that.”
Shorstein also said there is something he wants citizens and criminals alike to know.
“One thing I want to make very clear to everyone in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. You here the term ‘lame duck’. I will never be a lame duck,” he said. “I have never feared speaking out and doing what I think is right regardless of the circumstances. Until the last second I serve as State Attorney, we will do what is right and we will prosecute anyone who deserves to be prosecuted and make decisions based on law and fact.”