Candidates still jumping into area contests

The qualifying period for Judicial, State Attorney and Public Defender races opened at noon Monday and closes at noon Friday and Historic City News has learned that Retired Volusia County Judge, Stasia Warren, announced yesterday that she is joining the race for State Attorney in the 7th Judicial Circuit.

The four-year term seat is currently held by R. J. Larizza of St Augustine. The 7th Judicial Circuit encompasses all of St Johns, Putnam, Flagler and Volusia counties. Larizza has already qualified for re-election, according to the State Division of Elections. The annual salary for the State Attorney is $150,077.

In addition to the incumbent, Warren will face St Augustine attorney Terry Shoemaker in August, assuming they both pay the qualifying fee or obtain sufficient voter petitions before noon on Friday.

After appearing at a media kickoff event held at the Casa Monica Hotel February 24, announcing plans for a transitional location for the Civil Rights Museum of St Augustine, Warren resigned her position on the bench; although she did not say why at the time.

No Democrat has declared for the race yet, however, until Friday afternoon, anything can happen. If a non-Republican qualifies, there will be a closed Primary Election August 14th — meaning Democrats could vote for the Democrat candidates and Republicans could vote for the Republican Candidates.

Warren, 61, has been a county judge since 1990. Before that, she was in private practice, served as an assistant state attorney and worked as a teacher.

“I have faithfully served the law and our community by delivering justice from behind the bench,” Stasia Warren said in a statement. “Several weeks ago I submitted my resignation, stepping down because I felt I could best serve justice and our community in a different capacity. I felt it was time to take off the robe of a judge and to once again campaign for what is right.”