• Recent fund-raising reports from candidates running for open judge seats in the Fourth Judicial Circuit are in, and Jim Daniel, unopposed candidate for the Group 4 seat, leads with $116,900 in contributions. In the Group 11 seat, Adrian Soud leads with $63,100 and competing candidates Gerald Wilkerson and Mark Hulsey have reported no contributions. In Group 13, incumbent David Gooding has reported no contributions. In Group 19, unopposed Jeff Morrow has raised no contributions. In the Group 28 race, Virginia Norton has raised $51,510, while Frederic Buttner has raised $43,500.
• Fowler White Boggs Banker recently announced leadership changes in its offices across Florida. William Flynn, III, head of the international practice group in the Tampa office, was elected to the board of directors. John Emmanuel was elected as president, secretary and treasurer, while Rhea Law will continue to serve as the firm’s CEO and board chair. In addition, W. Donald Cox was appointed chair of the litigation department, and Linda Shelley was appointed chair of the business department. In the Jacksonville area, Thomas Dearing was selected as hiring shareholder focusing on Northeast Florida, and John Marino was named office managing shareholder of the firm’s Jacksonville office.
• The Northeast Florida chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers will meet Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. at Casa Dora Italian Cafe on Forsyth Street. FACDL President Russell Smith will answer questions about the ramifications of Senate Bill 1088, and there will be discussion of possible community service projects. Members and non-members are invited for appetizers and a beer and wine cash bar. RSVP to Jackie Carson at 355-6777.
• City Council will introduce a resolution Tuesday night honoring Howard Kelley, the retiring CEO of Sally Corp.
• Former mayoral staffer Pete Jackson is back in the public eye. He’s up for appointment to the Water and Sewer Expansion Authority.
• Speaking of appointments, attorney Brenda Ezell has been nominated by Mayor John Peyton to succeed Sylvester Robinson as a member of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission. Ezell was once with the Office of General Counsel, but is now with the law firm of Edwards Cohen Sanders Dawson & Mangu. Also, lobbyist Jim Gilmore is up for appointment to the JEA’s board of directors.
“It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.