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| Will the upcoming contest for Florida's first judicial circuit State Attorney be a one-candidate, uncontested baton hand-off--------or will there be more than one viable candidate in this race to make it a real election? |
It appears as if there will be at least one new candidate for State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit this year come election time on the ballots--as a rumor is circulating that current State Attorney Bill Eddins is retiring and will not seek another term in the 2020 election.
Early word has it that Eddins' hand selected, chosen successor for the office (the individual whom Eddins will endorse) will be current Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcile.
Qualifying for this multi-county office occurs in the Spring, just a few months from now.
Odds appear to be 50-50 that instead of what appears to be a smooth, relay-race style handoff from Eddins to Marcile for this job---there may actually be a contested election.
This would be a first in decades, as I'm told the previous, long-serving (since the 1970's) State Attorney, Curtis Golden, essentially "handed the office off" to the current State Attorney Bill Eddins 16 years ago.
I am always of the belief that electors prefer choices------ and having two very well-qualified persons vying for this job would be a great thing for the voters!
Obviously I don't speak for him, but I know my brother Circuit Judge Gary Bergosh has often expressed a desire to seek the State Attorney Office, when and if the timing was ever right.
He and I have discussed this, privately, over the years and on multiple occasions since 2004 when I moved back to Pensacola from San Diego. I've been contacted multiple times recently by folks in the profession and out of it that would LOVE it if Gary ran!
He has expressed to me often that if he were ever able to seek and subsequently win such an office--he would be especially focused on investigating and uncovering cases involving public corruption. This has resonated with me with acutely----as I have seen some terrible issues go by the wayside that I feel deserved a much closer look as it pertained to the ugly spectacle of the Newpoint Schools fiasco.
But If Gary Bergosh chose to do this--to run against Greg Marcile--It would certainly be, financially speaking, the path of maximum resistance for him; as a judge he would have to resign from the
judiciary the day he announced a run for this office and he would be without a pay check for up to eight months during the campaign--unlike Mr. Marcile who could remain comfortably in his position as the #2 in the SA office from now until the election and enjoy a smooth transfer from one position up to the next.....
I know one thing about my brother though: he is tenacious and he is not afraid to mix it up and take an intelligent, calculated risk.
As a combat-veteran Marine of the Iraq war in 2003 where he led a battalion of AMTRACKS and was nominated for the Bronze Star, he's a fighter that served and he is not afraid of anything. He's won multiple contested elections previously--to include his circuit-wide election to the bench in 2006 where he defeated a very well known and exceptionally well-funded opponent.
He's been elected unopposed subsequently.
As a lawyer, he has a tremendous resume including service as a prosecutor and a defense attorney in the Marine Corps and a prosecutor for the State Attorney's office here in Pensacola. He has also practiced in the private sector, assisting with probate and federal and state ADA cases in Florida and California. Additionally- he has worked for the Federal Government as a specialist handling complex cases in education law throughout the United States and overseas. He has taught college level courses in Maritime and Aviation Law at a local college.
For the last 13 years he has been a Circuit Court Judge in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.
In addition to all this, he is the founding member and President of the Federalist Society of the Emerald Coast--where he enjoys great, frequent fellowship with attorneys and elected officials throughout the 4-county 1st Circuit.
I also know he is well acquainted with our current Governor Ron DeSantis, as Gary met with DeSantis (and so did I) multiple times when the current Governor considered a run for the Florida Senate in 2016 and passed through Pensacola.
I have no idea about whether or not Gary will run for this seat. It will be a decision he makes in consultation with God, his wife, his children, and his family.
I'm just saying I would certainly NOT count him out. Never.
I would vote for Gary Bergosh.
ReplyDeleteThere has been a blind eye turned and uneven enforcement from the SAO on up the line from the current administration it. It is blatant and apparent. That is one of the reasons the attorneys are loving this town and lawsuits are so frequent.
Apparent government failure without the proper oversight toward the sheriff department and D2 commissioner has hurt this town, at the expense of the taxpayers.
I think Gary would give Greg a run for his money if he would chose to further serve the public in Escambia. We are fortunate to have both of you in leadership positions in our local government.
On a side note D2 is complaining about the goodwill of the board to paint the iconic Pete Moore pelican. We know that it was donated and is a meager cost from the general fund. He is deflecting from what his actions are costing the county. What a moron, and his bootlickers fall for it.
Good luck in the election. They do fall for his rhetoric unfortunately,
I know the pelican isn’t the topic, but since you brought it up. The simple gesture, and a mere $1,500, to recognize a man who stepped up and was a major catalyst in increasing water safety on our beaches is commendable of Commissioner Bender.
DeletePete More launched the “Moore Safe Shores Report” that continues to educate about surf conditions. Additionally he donated and continues to donate at least 2 vehicles to the lifeguard fleet.
The petty D2 has made reference to Pete More as being another corrupt individual in this town when his sales manager was at the podium a year ago.
This is our town and we have some of the most generous philanthropist who give an enormous amount of time and money that we all enjoy.
D2s statement here illustrates that he is not interested in Public Safety, but is using them.
His trying to portray himself as the champion of the Westside is comical. This clown isn’t from here, didn’t attend our schools and thinks he knows what’s important to those who have experienced our highs and lows. All while living struggling along with us in a waterfront home on Perdido Key.