2022 Election Preview | County judge Seat 1: LeAnn Mackey-Barnes, Danielle B. Ruse, Renee Thompson
Three lawyers are in a race to see who will be the next county judge in Marion County.
The three candidates are hoping to replace retiring County Judge Jim McCune, who's leaving at the end of the year.
The candidates are LeAnn Mackey-Barnes, Danielle B. Ruse and Renee Thompson.
Looking back: Moreland Memories Reunion set for Aug. 14 at Bank Street Patio in downtown Ocala
A new chairman: Carl Zalak is new chair of Marion County Commission
Election error: Due to contractor error, Marion elections office resending about 176,000 voter info cards
Details of this election
The election is scheduled for Aug. 23. Early voting is from Aug. 13 to 20.
According to the elections office, a candidate must receive 50 percent of the vote plus one in the primary to win outright. Otherwise, the top two go to the November general election.
To qualify, candidates must be members of the Florida Bar for five preceding years and a resident of the county circuit upon taking office, according to the elections website. The race is non-partisan.
The term is for six years with a salary of $156,377 per year.
As of mid-July, the three candidates have raised a collective $98,795 and spent $46,110. A review of the contributions shows the trio has received cash from fellow lawyers; law firms; businesses; residents; at least one public official and retirees.
LeAnn Mackey-Barnes
Barnes has twice before run for judge: once in 2012, and then again six years later. She said in 2012 she had a dream of being a judge. Three years before making her decision, her father was killed in a vehicle crash.
Barnes said "life is too short," and if you want something, then "you got to go for it."
She lost the 2012 race to Tommy Thompson, a former prosecutor who's now one of the four county judges.
Six years later, Barnes again ran against Thompson. She said she felt she was experienced, active in the community and it was a good time to run.
The voters felt Thompson deserved another term.
Last year, Barnes was one of four finalists to replace County Judge Sarah Ritterhoff Williams, who retired. Barnes was not picked by the governor.
For this election cycle, Barnes said "it was a hard decision." Hard, because Barnes lost her brother to COVID-19 in 2020, and she wanted to focus her attention on her mother and family.
Then, she changed her mind because of what her mother said to her.
"This is something you truly wanted. I'm fine," Barnes said her mother told her.
Barnes feels she's qualified for the job. A veteran lawyer who has worked at the Public Defender's Office for 20 years, Barnes said she has handled the county docket for incoming lawyers for 18 years. She's the chief attorney managing what amounts to the second largest law office in the county.
Barnes said she trains incoming lawyers into the county court system on how to handle and manage their cases.
As an attorney, Barnes said she was instrumental in shaping the mental and veterans court programs. She also worked with a juvenile program where minors can get their records expunged, providing they successfully complete special requirements.
"I've always been active in the community, trying to make a difference," she said.
Barnes said what separates her from the other candidates is her experience, which she feels will make a difference if she is elected.
"I'm here to do what's right, to make a difference and provide service to the community," she said.
As a former special education teacher, Barnes said she views everyone as an individual. And, as a supervisor over the lawyers in her office who practice in county court, she said she knows how to make the hard decisions.
Early Start
Barnes said she decided to become a defense lawyer because while in law school, she was on the defense side. She said it's very important to protect the constitutional rights of everyone.
A law professor Barnes had in school worked at the Gainesville Public Defender's Office. She said when she finished law school, she wanted to apply for a job in that office, even though she lived in Ocala.
She said the professor gave her a referral and she got an interview at the Ocala Public Defender's Office.
Renee Thompson
A civil lawyer and mediator, Thompson feels she's suited for the job of county judge. She said she's "a problem solver by nature."
Thompson said whomever wins the seat will be assigned to handle civil cases for the next three years. She said County Judge Tommy Thompson (her husband) and County Judge Bob Landt are expected to preside over the criminal docket for misdemeanor cases for the next three years.
As a civil lawyer and litigator for more than 20 years, she said she would be right for the position.
"I have a strong background in civil law," she said.
According to her resume, since 2015 Thompson has been on the state's super lawyer list, and was on the Florida super lawyers rising list since 2009.
What Thompson would do if elected
Thompson said as a small business owner, she would work hard for the people.
"I care about the community," Thompson said.
If elected, Thompson said she would use Zoom often for cases.
When the pandemic hit more than two years ago, it crippled most court proceedings. Judges and lawyers relied heavily on Zoom to keep cases moving.
Although the virus is not as strong as it once was, judges still use Zoom hearings to interact with those incarcerated.
As for her marriage to one of the county judges, she said there are strict rules governing such situations. She said she could not answer questions pertaining to her and her husband. She did say if she's selected by the voters, it would not be the first time that a judicial circuit would have a husband and wife serving as judges.
Danielle Ruse's close up with the law
An assistant state attorney for more than a decade, Ruse is very familiar with the law, and she knows her way around the courtroom.
Before obtaining her law degree, Ruse was attending court hearings and talking with lawyers.
Ruse's father, Charles Ruse, a former Ocala City Council member, is a lawyer, and she worked in his law office. Her brother, Charles III, is an attorney with the Public Defender's Office.
"He used to take me to hearings," Ruse said about her father.
She began as a receptionist and was a legal assistant in her father's office. After graduating law school, Ruse continued working in her father's office until she became a licensed attorney.
"I know what it's like to be in the courtroom. I'm comfortable with the rules and requirements of the law," she said.
Ruse's work experience
Seeing the law up close and personal, Ruse dreamed of one day becoming a judge.
"I like to work," she said.
Ruse was hired at the State Attorney's Office in the summer of 2008. At the SAO, Ruse worked in the misdemeanor and felony divisions. She also has handled other cases at the SAO. They include Marchman Act proceedings; risk protection orders; mental health court; and indirect criminal contempt matters.
She's currently on the City of Ocala Code Enforcement Board. Ruse is the mother of 9-year-old triplet girls.
Why is she different from the rest?
Ruse said what separates her from the other two candidates is knowledge of the law and the courtroom.
"I have experience with civil and criminal cases," she said.
She said if she wins, she will "work hard" while on the bench.
"I want to be a good steward of the people's money and follow the law," she said.
Growing up, she said, her father encouraged her to always do a good job because "nothing is free."
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com.
COUNTY JUDGE SEAT 1
Since there are three candidates, one must receive 50 percent plus one in the Aug. 23 election to win outright. If no candidate reaches that level, then the top two go to the November general election.
CANDIDIATES
LeAnn Mackey-Barnes
Family: Married with children
Education: University of Florida Levin College of Law; UF, BA in criminology and sociology
Work experience: Special education teacher; works at the Public Defender's Office, where she has handled felony, misdemeanor and juvenile criminal cases. Presently, she's the chief attorney managing what amounts to the second largest law office in Marion County. Helped created the county's Veterans Treatment, Mental Health Courts and Community Legal Services Juvenile Expungement program; assisted with educating law enforcement and hospital staff with Baker Act and Marchman Act cases; former volunteer judge at Teen Court.
Community service: Board member for Pace Center for Girls of Marion County; Kiwanis Club; volunteer lawyer for Community Legal Services handling juvenile expungement program; chairman for the Florida High School Athletic Association Appeals Committee; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; winner of the Richard Custureri Pro Bono Attorney of the year award; Diamond Hearts Community Service Award; and recognized by the Florida Supreme Court for community Service.
Danielle B. Ruse
Family: Mother to 9-year-old triplet daughters
Education: Political science degree from the University of Florida; law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law; Trial Advocacy College at University of Virginia College of Law; prosecutor training at National Drug Court Institute, University of Nevada in Reno; DUI Trial School, NHTSA.
Work experience: Worked in father's law firm; legal assistant; paralegal; civil lawyer; prosecutor since 2008 with experience in Baker and Marchman Acts, risk protection orders, indirect criminal contempt proceedings, domestic relations docket, Marion County Adult Felony Post Adjudicatory Drug Court, and felony cases; serves on the City of Ocala Municipal Code Enforcement Board.
Community service: Worked with Toys for Tots and Crossfit Iron Legion; volunteered with Ronald McDonald and Humane Societies programs.
Renee Thompson
Family: Married to County Judge Tommy Thompson
Education: University of South Florida, BS, magna cum laude, honors program; UF College of Law, JD with honors.
Work experience: Civil lawyer and mediator for more than 20 years; mediator at Upchurch, Watson, White & Max; owner of Thompson Law Center; adjunct professor at UF College of Law, Technology and Practice Management; former partner at Mateer & Harbert PA; former associate lawyer at Siboni, Hamer & Buchanan PA; Florida Super Lawyer list since 2015; and former Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star list since 2009.
Community service: Past president of Marion County Bar Association; Leadership Ocala Marion Alumni, Class XXI; Marion High School moot court and trial team coach; Served for eight years on Florida Bar Board of Governors and has received four Presidential Awards of Merit for bar service; Inaugural chair of the Florida Bar Leadership Academy; and Florida Association of Women Lawyers Leader in the Law.
ELECTION DETAILS
Primary Election Day is Aug. 23. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on that day. Check your voter information card for information on where to vote. If you have questions, visit votemarion.gov.
Early voting will be Aug. 13-20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following locations:
Election Center: 981 NE 16th St., Ocala
Belleview Public Library: 13145 SE County Road 484, Belleview
Deputy Brian Litz Building: 9048 SW HWY 200, Ocala
Dunnellon Public Library: 20351 Robinson Road, Dunnellon
Forest Public Library: 905 S County Road 314A
Freedom Public Library: 5870 SW 95th St., Ocala
Reddick Community Center: 4345 NW 152nd St, Reddick
Silver Springs Shores Community Center: 590 Silver Road, Ocala
The Villages Mulberry Center: 8445 SE 156th Mulberry Lane
If you requested a mail ballot, it must be received by the elections office by 7 p.m. on Aug. 23. For information on how to obtain a mail ballot, visit https://www.votemarion.gov/Ways-to-Vote/Vote-By-Mail/Vote-By-Mail-FAQ
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Three candidates for open county judge seat in Marion County, Florida
