2006 Know Your Candidates

Judge runoff sets up battle of different backgrounds

5th Judicial Circuit Court: Runoff -- Group 29

By JOHN FRANK
Published October 25, 2006

Two candidates with unique backgrounds are vying for this new judgeship in the 5th Judicial Circuit. They finished at the top of the three-way race in the September primary.

Edward L. Scott and Sandy Hawkins finished first and second, respectively, during voting in the primary election. Scott took 55,346 votes, or 45 percent, and Hawkins came in second with 44,048 votes, or 36 percent.

Peyton Bush Hyslop, a former Hernando County judge, finished third with 19 percent of the vote.

Scott spent more than $180,000 of his own money to buy billboards, road signs and advertisements. It paid off. He won every county's popular vote except Hernando.

By comparison, Hawkins spent just $12,000, according to campaign finance records.

Because no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two face each other in November. The winner will fill a new seat on the bench created in response to growth in the circuit, which covers a five-county area. This judge will sit in Marion County.

The two candidates bring different perspectives to the race.

One's a single mother of six who graduated from law school at age 42; the other is a decorated former police officer with his own private practice.

Sandy Hawkins, 51, the mother of six boys, says her story "is very much unlike the other candidates."

The daughter of immigrant farmers, she had her first child at 17, postponing her career for later in life.

At 32, she went back to school, attending a police academy, a community college, and later college and law school.

As an assistant state attorney, she worked on domestic violence cases and felony crimes, and now specializes in probation violations. Hawkins says her family background and varied legal practice will make her a thoughtful and fair judge.

Scott, 55, handles mostly civil law matters in his private practice. He began his law career as an Ocala police officer directly after high school. He spent eight years there before moving to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, where he was a major crimes investigator, earning a number of commendations.

After short stints as an assistant state attorney and public defender, Scott opened his private practice 19 years ago. He is running for a judicial post because he says he wants to return to public service.

The job

5th Judicial Circuit judge

The 5th Judicial Circuit encompasses Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties. The judge elected to the Group 29 seat will be based in Marion. Circuit judges handle juvenile justice, family law, felony cases and civil disputes involving more than $15,000. They are elected to six-year terms and are paid $145,080 a year.

The candidates

Sandy K. Hawkins

Hawkins, 51, was born in Palm Beach County and now lives in Belleview. A single mother, she worked various jobs while attending school. She graduated from the police academy, then earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida and a law degree from Stetson University at age 42. For the last nine years she's served as an assistant state attorney in the 5th Judicial Circuit. She's been married twice and has six older children. This is her first attempt at an elected office. Assets: Car, home, property. Liabilities: Mortgage, student loans, car loan. Source of income: State Attorney's Office salary.

Edward L. Scott

Scott, 55, was born in Canton, Ga. He attended high school in Ocala, where he still lives. He served as a police officer for 14 years, first in Ocala and then as a major crimes investigator with the Marion County Sheriff's Office. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida, a master's degree from Rollins College and a law degree from Samford University in Alabama. For the past 19 years he's been in private practice. Scott is twice divorced, currently married, and has three grown children. This is his first campaign for office. Assets: Home, two cars, boat, property, cash. Liabilities: Mortgage, car loan. Source of Income: Law practice.

[Last modified November 3, 2006, 15:15:33]