Board of Governors nominating petitions are due December 15

Nominating petitions for the 2010 election for the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar must be received in the headquarters office on or before 5 p.m., December 15, 2009. All of the Board positions are for two-year terms.

Executive Director John F. Harkness, Jr., on October 1 certified to Thomas D. Hall, clerk of the Supreme Court, the number of members of The Florida Bar in good standing in each of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits and outside the State of Florida, and the number of circuit representatives based on the apportionment formula set forth in rule 2-3.3, Rules Regulating The Florida Bar.

Pursuant to rule 2-3.4(b), incumbent Board members must advise the executive director of their intention to seek reelection to a new term. The Board members who do not plan to run again are indicated by an asterisk next to their names.

Nominating petitions for the Board of Governors must be signed by no fewer than five members in good standing whose official Bar address is in the same judicial circuit (or out-of-state, if applicable) as the nominee (see form below).

Election ballots will be mailed on or before March 1, 2010, and voted ballots must be received prior to midnight EST, March 22, 2010.

Present Board of Governors members whose terms are expiring on June 25, 2010 include:

Current Member

Stephen Echsner, First Circuit, seat 1, elected in 2007

*Dominic Caparello, Second Circuit, seat 2, elected in 2005

Clay Schnitker, Third Circuit, seat 1, elected in 2008

Grier Wells, Fourth Circuit, seat 1, elected in 2002

Andrew Sasso, Sixth Circuit, seat 1, elected in 2004

Chobee Ebbets, Seventh Circuit, seat 1, elected in 2000

Mary Ann Morgan, Ninth Circuit, seat 1, elected in 2009

Scott McMillen, Ninth Circuit, seat 3, elected in 2008

Robert Brush, 10th Circuit, seat 1, elected in 2000

Ramon Abadin, 11th Circuit, seat 1, elected in 2006

*Ervin Gonzalez, 11th Circuit, seat 3, elected in 2001

Dennis Kainen, 11th Circuit, seat 5, elected in 2006

John Hickey, 11th Circuit, seat 7, elected in 2008

William Schifino, Jr., 13th Circuit, seat 1, elected in 2008

New Seat, *** 13th Circuit, seat 4

*Clifford Sanborn, 14th Circuit, seat 1, elected in 2004

David Prather, 15th Circuit, seat 1, elected in 2007

*Scott Hawkins, 15th Circuit, seat 3, elected in 2004

Special Election,** 17th Circuit, seat 1

Jay Cohen, 17th Circuit, seat 4, elected in 2008

Clif McClelland, Jr., 18th Circuit, seat 1, elected in 2000

Laird Lile, 20th Circuit, seat 1, elected in 2006

Ian Comisky, OOS, seat 2, elected in 1998

Brian Burgoon, OOS, seat 4, elected in 2000

* Does not intend to seek reelection

** Special Election in Process

*** Reapportionment requires moving a seat from the 11th Circuit to the 13th Circuit

The undersigned members in good standing of The Florida Bar, each of whose official bar address is in the ______________ Judicial Circuit, hereby place in nomination _____________________ for election as a representative on the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar from the ______________ Judicial Circuit, Seat _____, to hold office commencing at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of The Florida Bar on June 25, 2010, for a term of two years and until a successor is elected and qualified.

(NOTE: Must be signed by no less than five members in good standing of The Florida Bar whose official bar address is in that judicial circuit.)



Signature Printed Name And Attorney Number

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I hereby certify that I am a member of The Florida Bar in good standing whose official bar address is in the _________ Judicial Circuit. I hereby endorse my acceptance of this nomination and agree to serve as a member of the Board of Governors if elected.

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(Signature)
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(Name, Attorney Number)
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(City, Date)