Most judges in Alachua County breeze to reelection unopposed, but 1 seat is up for grabs

Andrew Caplan, The Gainesville Sun
·2 min read
Candidates running for county and circuit judges in Alachua County are set, most of whom are unopposed. (File)
Candidates running for county and circuit judges in Alachua County are set, most of whom are unopposed. (File)

Alachua County judges are set for the upcoming midterm election, though most candidates will breeze back into office since no opponents filed to challenge them.

Just one chair is up for grabs this election cycle and its occupant has historically ruled on many local government issues.

The seat, Eighth Judicial Circuit seat 12, was the only judgeship up for grabs. It represents Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties.

It is currently held by Eighth Circuit Court Judge Monica J. Brasington, who is not running for reelection and has ruled on many Gainesville and Alachua County issues during her tenure.

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The candidates for the chair are Sean Brewer, Starlin AuBroncee Martin, Nathan Skop and Dan Weisman.

Brewer has served as an assistant state attorney and Alachua County's Felony Division Chief. Martin has been a public defender for 24 years.

Skop is a Gainesville attorney and previously served on the Florida Public Service Commission. Weisman is a former prosecutor for the Attorney General's Office who now has a private practice in Gainesville that focuses on criminal and personal injury cases.

The races for judge are nonpartisan and restricts candidates from being swayed by party politics, limiting what they can say publicly on controversial issues.

For county races, judges Susan Miller-Jones, Walter Green and Tom Jaworski each ran unopposed and will retain their seats come election day.

For circuit judges, most seats were also uncontested.

Incumbents David Kreider, Donna Keim, Mark Moseley, James Colaw and George Wright all will retain their seats in office.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: 4 vying for Alachua County Judicial circuit seat, others unopposed