Catlin, Cary Judge Race Down To Wire

Posted Aug 26, 2008 by Thomas W. Krause

Updated Aug 26, 2008 at 11:00 PM

10:55 p.m.: In an exceptionally close race, family law attorney Catherine M. Catlin was narrowly defeating sitting Circuit Judge Kevin Carey late tonight.

Catlin was ahead by less than one percentage point. If a candidate wins by less than 1/2 of a percent, state law mandates a machine recount, said Jennifer Davis, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of State.

If the difference is less than 1/4 percent, any ballots identified by the machines as incorrectly marked will be inspected by hand, Davis said.

Carey has sat as a judge since 2002. Catlin, during her campaign, said she has practiced in front of Carey for four years and has superior skills in time management and decisiveness.

It is rare for a sitting judge to lose.

In 1994, Hillsborough County Judge Charlene Honeywell lost an election. She has since become a circuit judge.

Circuit Judge Martha Cook, the only other sitting judge to face opposition in this year’s election, defeated Constance Daniels. Cook has been a judge since 2003.

Voters picked new judges in three other races to replace retiring circuit judges Frank Gomez, J. Rogers Padgett and Barbara Fleischer.

Long-time assistant public defender Samantha Ward defeated Miriam Velez.Caroline Tesche, a private attorney and former prosecutor, defeated Jason Montes.

Lisa Campbell, a veteran assistant public defender who now works as a partner with Stewart & Campbell, defeated Linda Courtney Clark.