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Now's The Time To Run For Judge In Hillsborough

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By THOMAS W.  KRAUSE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 28, 2008

TAMPA Wanna be a judge?

This could be your year.

In addition to three judge seats left open by retiring judges, a fourth will open Friday with the resignation of Circuit Judge Monica Sierra.

Gov. Charlie Crist's general counsel faxed a letter to Hillsborough County today asking the Judicial Nominating Commission to start searching for candidates to replace Sierra. The governor wants the names of six vetted candidates by March 28.

Crist will appoint one of the six to fill the open spot.

Last week, Sierra announced that she would resign her seat effective Feb. 1. She will remain in Israel's West Bank where during a three-month hiatus she has done volunteer work for a humanitarian group that sets policy for aiding Palestinians.

Sierra was elected to a six-year term in 2003 and would have been up for re-election in August. The job pays $145,080 per year. Whoever Crist appoints to replace Sierra would sit until 2010 then would have to seek re-election.

Applicants must be lawyers who are Hillsborough County residents, registered voters and members of the Florida Bar for at least five years.

In addition to Sierra's replacement, Hillsborough County voters will pick three new judges who will start next year.

Circuit judges Barbara Fleischer, J. Rogers Padgett and Frank Gomez will retire at the end of 2008.

So far, five lawyers have announced that they will run for those soon-to-be-open positions.

Caroline Tesche is the lone candidate, so far, for Gomez's seat. Samantha Ward and Miriam Velez will run against each other for Fleischer's. Lisa D. Campbell and Elton J. Gissendanner III will run against each other for Padgett's.

Many sitting judges also are up for re-election. So far, none have opposition.

Official qualifying for judicial elections begins April 28 and ends May 2.

Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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