Hillsborough Judge | 13th Circuit, Group 1

Winner: Caroline Tesche

Veteran attorney Caroline Tesche says her unsuccessful run for a circuit judge seat in 2006 left her encouraged enough by colleagues to try again. Jason D. Montes, a newer attorney, says he views a judgeship as his next step in public service.

	Jason D. Montes, 39	Caroline Tesche, 47
Experience	Jason D. Montes practices tort litigation and civil rights law with the Tampa law firm Luks, Santaniello, Perez, Petrillo & Gold. He has been an attorney for six years and previously worked in real estate, as a substitute teacher and served in the Army National Guard.	Caroline Tesche is a criminal defense attorney who also does estate planning and contracts. She has been an attorney for 20 years and worked as an assistant Hillsborough County public defender and assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County.
Opinions on experience	“I have the life experience. The law was a second career for me. I’ve been in commercial and residential mortgage business in Los Angeles, title abstract business here in Tampa and in the insurance industry.” He said the negative net worth listed below is the result of student loans.	“I’m the best candidate because my legal experience literally triples that of my opponent. I’ve had very significant cases in the legal system. I’ve been a manager and a litigator in the courtroom.”
Why do you want to be a judge?	“I relish the idea of public service. Of course, as a civil attorney, there’s plenty of money to be made out there. Money is not the issue. The issue is serving the public, and that’s what I want to get back into.”	“Returning back to the public sector work in the courtroom is indeed a calling, and I can’t imagine a more important way to pull together the good work I’ve already done than to serve on the bench.”
Community involvement	Hillsborough County Masonic Lodge No. 25, F&AM, Shriners International, mock trial team coach for the University of South Florida and Bloomingdale High School, president of the alumni board of trustees for Delta Chi Fraternity and the University of Florida, Eucharist minister at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.	Bay Area Legal Services, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Booster Club board of directors, Davis Islands Chamber of Commerce, South Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Special Olympics sponsor, Friends of the Florida Orchestra, Inns of Court Tampa Chapter Master, Paint Your Heart Out Tampa Bay.
Education	Bachelor’s degree, University of Florida; law degree, Nova Southeastern University.	Bachelor’s degree, University of California, Santa Barbara; law degree, Northwestern School of Law.
Assets	Home, family trust account, 401(k), Roth IRA account.	Checking account, mutual funds, IRA account.
Liabilities	Mortgage, student loans, signature loan.	Student loan, car loan, vacation home.
Net worth	-$14,040	$148,710
Source of income	Law salary.	Law salary.
Personal	He is single with no children.	She is single with no 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.