Hillsborough Judge | 13th Circuit, Group 21

Winner: Lisa Campell

Two candidates are seeking to replace retiring Circuit Judge Frank Gomez.

	Lisa Campbell, 43	Linda Courtney Clark, 51
Experience	A lawyer for 17 years, Campbell is a partner at Stewart, Twine and Campbell, P.A., She previously worked for 14 years as an assistant Hillsborough County Public Defender, where she spent time as a recruiter and trainer.	A lawyer for seven years, Linda Courtney Clark is a sole practitioner focusing on business issues/litigation, as well as marital and family law, adoptions, juvenile dependency, and termination of parental rights cases.
Opinions on experience	“It’s not just the length of time I’ve been an attorney, but the depth and breadth of the experience that I have that distinguish me from my opponent. I’ve tried cases ranging in severity from petit theft and domestic battery to homicide, where the death penalty was a consideration.”	“I bring a balanced perspective to the bench. I have life experience as a wife, a mother, a property owner, a business owner and a business manager. I combine that with a very broad practice of legal work. I bring a good perspective to the bench because of this.”
Why do you want to be a judge?	“I spoke to several people who I respect about what essential experience they thought should be the threshold for being a judge, and I actively sought ways to distinguish myself and make sure I emboldened and developed expertise in other areas of the law.”	“I have a passion for the law. I went to school late in life for it. I’m not seeking it because I’m burnt out doing something else. I’m seeking it because I love the law and I love the community.”
Community involvement	Tampa Bay Inn of Court Master, Tampa Crossroads board of directors, Project SAVE, Tampa AIDS Network, Hillsborough sheriff’s Weed and Seed Steering Committee, Bay Area Legal Services, Falkenburg Academy Community Advisory Board.	Florida Bar Professional Ethics Committee, Junior League of Tampa, Girl Scouts of the USA: Lifetime Member, Boy Scouts of America, juvenile attorney ad litem, American Cancer Society, Ye Loyal Krewe of Grace O’Malley, Carrollwood Area Business Association.
Education	Bachelor’s degree, Howard University; law degree, University of Miami.	Bachelor’s degree, University of South Florida; law degree, Stetson University College of Law.
Assets	Savings, 401(k), state retirement, deferred compensation plan, law firm.	Home, vacation home, automobile, law firm.
Liabilities	Mortgage, business loan.	Student loans, credit cards, mortgage.
Net worth	$399,201	$442,242
Income	Law salary.	Law salary.
Personal	She is single with no children.	Married to William Eugene Clark, four children.
Web site	Yes	Yes
E-mail	Yes	Yes

About the job: Circuit judges, elected on a nonpartisan basis to six-year terms, preside over criminal and civil cases. They handle felonies, such as murder and robbery, as well as divorces, juvenile cases, probate and guardianship, and lawsuits alleging damages in excess of $15,000. The job pays $145,080.