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16 from county among 58 seeking new judgeships

Among the Hernando applicants are a former judge, an assistant state attorney and a general magistrate.

By MICHAEL KRUSE
Published July 22, 2005

BROOKSVILLE - Peyton Hyslop lost his spot as county judge in August. Now he wants it back.

He was one of 16 Hernando County residents and 58 people overall who applied by the Wednesday evening deadline for six newly created judgeships in the 5th Judicial Circuit.

Since getting ousted by current County Judge Don Scaglione, Hyslop has opened a private law practice, but he's still working out of his home - and he didn't exactly sound crushed by the prospect of never having to move into the office he's still setting up.

"If that's the way it works, then that's the way it works," he said Thursday afternoon when reached on his cell phone. "You've got to make plans both ways.

"I've got the experience to do the job," he added, "and I've always enjoyed serving the people of Hernando County."

Hyslop applied only for the new county judgeship.

Up for grabs are three specific county judgeships - in Marion, Lake and Hernando - and three circuit posts, one of which is going to be split between Lake and Sumter counties. The 5th Judicial Circuit includes Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties.

Hernando will get a second county judgeship - and probably another full-time circuit judge, too, although nothing is final just yet, according to Lisa Herndon, the Brooksville-based chairwoman of the 5th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission.

The second Hernando County court judge could be on the bench as early as Nov. 2, according to state legislation passed in May.

Included in the group of 16 Hernando applicants: Senior Assistant County Attorney Kurt Hitzemann, Assistant State Attorney Nicole Klapka, General Magistrate Geraldine E. Bishop and Daniel B. Merritt Jr., the son of current Circuit Judge Daniel B. Merritt Sr.

Hitzemann and Klapka are going for the county judgeship against Hyslop.

Bishop applied for any opening throughout the circuit.

Merritt wants either the Hernando County judgeship or the circuit spot in Hernando.

Interviews are set for three all-day sessions: Aug. 1 in Hernando and Aug. 2 and 4 in Lake County. After resume reviews and background investigations, each interview should last 15 minutes, said Herndon, who has seven other people on her committee.

"It's a lot of people to interview," she said. "We know it's going to be grueling."

Bishop, the general magistrate, was one of two women - along with Klapka - who applied from Hernando.

"I just feel like this is the next step in my career," she said Thursday afternoon. "The vacancies are there, and I think the time is right. I've been a general magistrate for about a year, and I've worked here in the court system for 19 years."

Rita Young, a former prosecutor in Citrus County now based in Pinellas, has applied for the Hernando County Court and 5th Judicial Circuit judgeships.

From Citrus County, meanwhile, four people applied: former Crystal River City Attorney David La Croix, Inverness-based Assistant State Attorneys Thomas Boll and Bill Catto and attorney Milan Samargya.

For Hyslop, his reasoning for trying to reclaim his role as a county judge - well, it was simple.

"I find it an enjoyable thing to do," he said.

As for being a lawyer?

"It's just different," he said. "We'll leave it at that."

Michael Kruse can be reached at mkruse@sptimes.com or 352 848-1434.

List of Hernando County applicants for 5th Judicial Circuit Court and Hernando County judgeships

Hernando County Court applicants

Kurt E. Hitzemann

Peyton Hyslop

Geoffrey T. Kirk

Nicole S. Klapka

Joseph A. Lowman

Paul Nessler Jr.

Stephen E. Toner Jr.

Kenneth L. Warnstadt

Applicants for both circuit and county courts

Geraldine E. Bishop

James R. Jones

Michael Lamberti

Daniel B. Merritt Jr.

Steve O. Rushing

Keith M. Schenck

Scott Timothy Smith

Applicants for only circuit court

Thomas R. Eineman

[Last modified July 22, 2005, 00:33:20]