//Judicial Nominating Commission Sends Six Names to Governor
The 8th Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission prepares to interview six judicial candidates vying for the county judge's post. Starting with the two men at the far end and going left, State Attorney Brian Kramer, Commission Chairman Norm Fugate, Rebecca Shinholser, Brent Siegel, Candice Brower, Ronald Bendekovic, Robert Woody, and Christopher Elsey.
Latest NewsAugust 1, 2023

Judicial Nominating Commission Sends Six Names to Governor

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                The 8th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission interviewed six applicants for county judge Tuesday at the Levy County Courthouse and decided to send all six names to Gov. Ron DeSantis for consideration.

            DeSantis will choose one of the applicants to replace former County Judge James T. Browning who retired one year early due to lingering health problems.

            The applicants are Sunshine Dawn Baynard of Chiefland, Arielle Screws of Williston, Cheryl Dianne Westmoreland of Morriston, Luis F. Bustamante, Doreen T. Inkeles, and Caridad Susana Torres.

            Nominating commission members had the option of submitting a minimum of three names to the governor. They chose to submit all six names after interviewing the applicants.

            If the governor doesn’t make the appointment until after Aug. 20 the new county judge will serve until 2026 rather than completing Browning’s term of office in 2024, according to Supervisor of Elections Tammy Jones.

            If the appointment of the new judge is made before Aug. 20, the judge will serve out Browning’s remaining year in office and must run in 2024, Jones said Tuesday evening.

            The same scenario happened when Browning was appointed. He was appointed by the governor in 2009 but did not run for election until 2012. Former County Judge Joe Smith’s term officially ended in 2010.

            The voter-approved procedure for appointing judges also applies to the appointment of circuit judges who leave office early. They are also chosen by the governor using the same procedures and the same Aug. 20 deadline.

            DeSantis has shown that he won’t be hurried with his appointments. He takes his time and does a thorough review before making an appointment of public officials.

            The Aug. 20 deadline changes things for the Levy County judicial candidates. If their intention was to run for Browning’s seat next year, assuming they didn’t get the appointment, they would have to wait until 2026 if the governor doesn’t make the appointment by Aug. 20.

The 8th Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission prepares to interview six judicial candidates vying for the county judge's post. Starting with the two men at the far end and going left, State Attorney Brian Kramer, Commission Chairman Norm Fugate, Rebecca Shinholser, Brent Siegel, Candice Brower, Ronald Bendekovic, Robert Woody, and Christopher Elsey.
The 8th Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission prepares to interview six judicial candidates vying for the county judge’s post. Starting with the two men at the far end and going left, State Attorney Brian Kramer, Commission Chairman Norm Fugate, Rebecca Shinholser, Brent Siegel, Candice Brower, Ronald Bendekovic, Robert Woody, and Christopher Elsey.

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Enterprise Reporting August 1, 2023; Posted August 1, 2023

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