Two Broward County lawyers are in a run-off for the 17th Circuit’s seat 1 on the Bar Board of Governors following voting in a November special election.

Walter G. “Skip” Campbell, Jr., led the eight-candidate race with 793 votes, or 46.6 percent. Lorna E. Brown-Burton was second with 232 votes, or 13.6 percent.

They bested Diana Santa Maria, who recdevied 213 votes; Debra Moss Curtis, with 158 votes; Jay Kim, with 147 votes; Christopher Q. Wintter, with 63 votes; Nydia Menéndez, with 58 votes; and Edward J. Chandler, with 36 votes.

Runoff ballots were mailed around November 13, and must be returned to the Bar’s election company no later than midnight December 3.

Broward County lawyers have the option of voting on-line (using their personal identification number and member number) in lieu of returning their paper ballot. The instructions portion of the paper ballot advises voters of this choice and the URL site for voting on-line. There will also is a link on the Bar’s Web site — www.floridabar.org — to that URL.

Here are the runoff candidates' platform statements:

17th Circuit
Seat 1

Lorna Brown-Burton
My fellow members of The Florida Bar, I am running for The Florida Bar Board of Governors Seat 1 of the 17th Circuit. I am a Broward attorney and I am committed to being of service and to uniquely contributing to the local and state legal community and the community at large. I will strive to make a difference in partnership with all those who serve on The Florida Bar Board of Governors so that we can all fulfill on every matter which is of concern to us all.

As a member of The Florida Bar for 22 years who was originally born in Jamaica, West Indies, and is proud to be a naturalized American citizen, I believe that my cultural background along with my experience and ability as a lawyer will serve as a key ingredient in considering each and every Bar member while addressing the many issues facing the Bar such as court funding, greater access to the courts and e-filing, the impact of the economy on graduating law students, new lawyers, and practicing lawyers, and the court backlog due to the huge number of foreclosures pending in the system. These are a few of the issues which I am committed to work toward a successful outcome.

As a graduate of Nova University Center for the Study of Law, I have been licensed to practice law since 1987 in the State of Florida and the Southern District since 1990 and practice in the areas of workers’ compensation defense and consumer bankruptcy law.

My Bar experience includes service as an elected member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors Young Lawyers Division as the 17th Circuit representative where I chaired the Affiliate Outreach Committee. I also have served as president of the Young Lawyers Section of the Broward County Bar Association. I now serve on The Florida Bar Grievance Committee “17 E” as chair. I am a member of the Broward County Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the T.J. Reddick Bar Association, and the Florida Chapter Affiliate of the National Bar Association. I have served on the Legal Aid Board of Directors and held several officer positions including president.

I am involved with the community as a member of Leadership Broward Foundation and former officer of the Board of Directors, board member of the Broward Alliance where I also serve on the Entrepreneur Council, board member and officer of Enterprise Coral Springs and the Economic Development Foundation of Coral Springs, and board member and officer of the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. I was recognized for my achievements in Who’s Who of Black South Florida, the Inaugural Edition, 2007, as one of South Florida’s Most Influential and was recently nominated to be in ICABA Profile Directory of South Florida’s 100 Most Accomplished Blacks in Health and Law, 2009.

Thank you for the opportunity to be of service as a representative for the 17th Circuit, Seat 1, Florida Bar Board of Governors. I greatly appreciate your consideration.

Walter G. Campbell, Jr.
Public service is important to the benefit of all. Because the integrity of the judicial system has been paramount to my career, I feel it would be an honor to continue to fight for lawyers and judges.

I have been asked by a number of judges to run for this board position so that I might be able to represent the Bar’s interest in Tallahassee concerning funding and important legislative issues. My knowledge of the process will help us all get our message to the Legislature.

I would appreciate your consideration.