JUDGE DECIDES JUDICIAL CAMPAIGN CONTROVERSY

Second District Circuit Court Judge Janet E. Ferris ruled Wednesday in Tallahassee that State Representative John Stargel can remain on the ballot in the race for the Tenth Judicial Circuit Group 28 seat.

Stargel's opponent, Nathaniel White, had sought to remove the Lakeland legislator from the race on allegations of election law violations concerning the transfer and use of contributions originally raised for his legislative reelection campaign. Judicial races are nonpartisan.

Ferris ruled in Stargel's favour on two of the three points raised in the lawsuit, and noted that the third point may now be moot.

White's attorney will now ask Ferris to order Stargel to sit for a deposition on the claim not ruled upon, that Stargel did not inform contributors to his legislative reelection campaign about his switching races and giving them the opportunity to request a refund of their donations. He said if Judge Ferris does not rule in his client's favour and Stargel wins, they plan an appeal.

Who said judicial races were boring?