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Here Come The Judge Candidates For Hillsborough

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 11, 2008

TAMPA - Two circuit court judges are facing challengers, and six others are vying for three open spots in elections to be held Aug. 26.

Twenty-three other circuit judges and five county judges also faced re-election this year but have no opposition for the six-year terms. The circuit judge position pays $145,080 per year.

Circuit Court Judge Kevin Carey faces challenger Catherine M. Catlin, and Judge Martha J. Cook faces Constance Daniels.

In addition, six people are seeking to fill seats that will open with the January retirement of three judges: Frank A. Gomez, J. Rodgers Padgett and Barbara Fleischer.

Those six are Caroline J. Tesche, who will face Jason D. Montes; Samantha Ward versus Miriam Velez; and Lisa D. Campbell against Linda Courtney Clark.

Candidates have touted their experience and endorsements.

Carey, a family law judge, cited his "breadth of experience" as a civil business litigator and also in the areas of family, juvenile, felony, drug court and civil law.

Carey, who became a judge in 2002, cited his years of judicial experience.

"I was elected by a strong majority of 63 percent," he said. "I've received the endorsements of the county firefighters, Sheriff David Gee, the police union, Public Defender Julie Holt, the labor unions. ... All the groups I'm aware of have endorsed me, and also the vast majority of the county bar presidents. Twenty past bar presidents have endorsed me."

His opponent, Catlin, is a family law lawyer who has practiced in Florida since 1987. She said she has been practicing in front of Carey for four years.

"I believe I have the superior skills in terms of time management, effective use of court time, control of the court setting and decisiveness when it comes to ruling," she said. "Those are skills that I've developed over the past 13 years as a sole practitioner, running not only the business end of my practice but every aspect of the client's case because I do not have associates or paralegals."

Cook, also a family law judge, has been on the bench since 2003.

"I have the judicial experience, the education and career background to serve in this position and the wisdom to do the job based on that experience," she said.

Daniels runs her own firm and practices personal injury, family, juvenile dependency and criminal law. The former assistant public defender likewise cites her experience.

"I would certainly be fair and impartial," she said. "I would judge each case on a case-by-case basis, treating everyone fairly, and I would always abide by what the law is."

Ward and Velez are running for Fleischer's seat.

Ward, a veteran assistant public defender, ran for judge in 2006 but was defeated by Emily Peacock.

Ward said she's "the only judicial candidate in all these races that's board-certified." She said she's certified by the Florida Bar in criminal trial law. She said she has 18 years as a practicing lawyer, working as a courtroom litigator daily.

"I've also been part of the management of the public defender's office for many years and dealt with other agencies in the justice system who solve problems that we experience in the court system," she said.

Velez, a former assistant state attorney, works as a defense lawyer for the firm Valkenburg & Velez. She noted her background working in law enforcement and with civil, family and probate matters.

"I do believe in the system, and I certainly believe in the administration of justice," she said. "I believe my experience makes me qualified. I feel like I can make a significant difference in the system."

In another race, two former assistant public defenders with backgrounds in law enforcement who are now in private practice face each other for Gomez's soon-to-be-vacant seat.

Tesche, a criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor who owns her law firm, ran for judge in 2006 but was defeated by Bernard Silver.

Montes has been practicing law since 2002.

Tesche said she has "triple the experience in the courtroom, and I have the leadership skills to handle not only dockets, but the variety of cases and issues that would be presented in a big courtroom setting as a result of my prior litigation experience and my leadership."

Montes said law is his second career. He formerly conducted investigations into auto theft for major corporations, real estate sales and mortgage brokering. He also worked in military intelligence for both the Florida and Maryland Army National Guard. Because of this, he said, he can relate better to people who come into the courtroom.

"I've done a lot of things in my lifetime," he said.

Running for Padgett's seat are Campbell and Courtney Clark.

Campbell, a longtime assistant public defender, is a partner at the general litigation firm Stewart & Campbell. She cited the "depth and breadth" of her experience. "I think that, in a nutshell, I have a broad base of support, not only from the legal community but the support of Sheriff Gee, as well as several of the city and county firefighters and the union that I think is indicative of their confidence in my ability to serve objectively and fairly."

Clark, who is in private practice and volunteers in several areas, including working for Bay Area Legal Services, said, "I think that I am exceptionally qualified for the bench. I think between the two of us, I bring a good perspective and a good balance between my life experience and my legal experience that will allow me to be immediately effective in a number of areas."

Judicial Candidates

GROUP 1

Jason Montes

Age: 39

Education: University of Florida, Bachelor's in English, 1991; Nova Southeastern, 2002, Juris Doctorate

Family: Single

Professional Experience: Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office, 2002-04; Haas Dutton, insurance defense and civil defense, 2004-05; 2005-08, Luks, Santaniello, Perez, Petrillo & Gold, corporate litigation, civil rights cases, breach of contract

Political Experience: none

Caroline J. Tesche

Age: 47

Education: Bachelor's, with honors, University of California at Santa Barbara, 1982; law degree from Lewis and Clark Northwestern School of Law, 1987. Spent third year as visiting scholar at Fordham University in New York City

Family: Single

Professional Experience: started career as an assistant state attorney in Miami 1987-92. Was elevated through the office assigned to the felony bureau, became chief of county court division, the largest trial division, which handles all misdemeanor prosecutions. Ended career there as prosecutor assigned to the organized crime division. Took a task force position in Bangor, Maine, working with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the state attorney general and local prosecutors on narcotics prosecutions. In 1993, went back to Florida and worked in private practice in the Keys. Moved to Tampa and was hired as an assistant public defender in 1996. Started own firm in 1998. Practices primarily criminal defense, mostly state and some federal work.

Political Experience: ran for judge in 2006 and lost to Bernard Silver

GROUP 2

Miriam Velez

Age: 37

Education: University of South Florida, English and political science; Stetson Law School, 2001

Family: Married; one daughter, 11 months

Professional Experience: Worked with the Salvation Army Correctional Services and as a probation officer for the Department of Corrections before entering law school. Following law school, worked as an assistant state attorney. In 2003, went into private practice with her husband in the firm of Valkenburg & Velez.

Political Experience: none

Samantha Ward

Age: 43

Education: Bachelor's degree, University of Florida, 1987. Florida State University School of Law, 1990

Family: Husband Al Suarez is a retired firefighter and was restaurant owner until it burned down. Stepson Alec, 12

Professional Experience: Worked as a prosecutor in the State Attorney's Office 1990-93, then went to the public defender's office

Political Experience: Ran unsuccessfully for judge in 2006

GROUP 7

J. Kevin Carey

Age: 49

Education: Bachelor of science in business administration, University of Florida, 1980. Law degree, University of Florida, 1983

Family: Divorced last year. Two children, Caroline and John Kevin Jr.

Professional Experience: Law clerk for U.S. District Judge George C. Carr 1983-85. In private practice, worked for law firms: Glenn, Rasmussen and Fogarty 1985-86; Smith, Helms, Mulliss and Moore, 1986-90; Carlton Fields, 1990-2003

Political Experience: Became judge January 2003.

Catherine Catlin

Age: 47

Education: University of Miami, bachelor's degree, 1982; law degree, 1987

Family: Single

Professional Experience: In private practice in Tampa since 1988. Sole practitioner since 1995. Practice in marital and family law

Political Experience: none

GROUP 21

Lisa Campbell

Age: 43

Education: Bachelor's from Howard University, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. Majored in political science, minored in English. Law Degree, 1990, University of Miami

Family: Single

Professional Experience: 14 years with public defender's office, beginning 1991. Now a partner with Stewart, Twine and Campbell, litigating cases in areas of family, criminal, personal injury and wrongful death

Political Experience: none

Linda Courtney Clark

Age: 51

Education: Studied criminology at University of South Florida, graduated 1997. Law degree from Stetson University, 2000. Previously worked for Eastern Air Lines and Honeywell, then was a stay-at-home mom.

Family: Married 27 years to William Clark, owner of two staffing companies and a consulting company. Four children, ages 16 to 24

Professional Experience: Civil litigation, family law, juvenile, including dependency and termination of parental rights, as well as criminal law. Volunteer for Bay Area Legal, sometimes landlord tenant or family law issues, also a volunteer attorney ad litem, for 13th judicial circuit, juvenile delinquency division and domestic violence project

Political Experience: none

GROUP 30

Martha Cook

Age: 58

Education: Stetson University, bachelor's in psychology, 1970; University of South Florida, master's in psychology, 1971; law degree from University of Florida with honors, 1977

Family: Married to Bill Sedgeman, chairman of the board of Community Bank; daughter Hilary, 16

Professional Experience: Lawyer for 30 years. Former partner at law firm Holland and Knight, associate at Carlton Fields. Practiced in commercial litigation. In early career, was an assistant attorney general for the state of Florida.

Political Experience: Elected judge in 2002, now sitting in circuit civil court.

Constance Daniels

Age: 41

Education: Palm Beach Community College, Santa Fe Community College. University of Florida, majored in political science, minored English, 1990. University of Florida College of Law, 1993.

Family: Single, one son

Professional Experience: worked at the state attorney's office as certified legal intern 1993-94. Public defender's office, 1996-97. Started own law firm in 1997. Practice in family law, criminal, personal injury, juvenile dependency and termination of parental rights

Political Experience: none

Reporter Thomas W. Krause contributed to this report. Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

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