13th Circuit Board of Governors Candidates’ Platform Statements
13th Circuit Board of Governors Candidates’ Platform Statements
Three lawyers have filed in a special election to complete an unexpired term on the Bar Board of Governors representing the 13th Circuit. The winner will complete the term for board member Bill Schifino, who will be sworn in as the Bar’s president-elect in June.
Ballots will be mailed around April 1 and must be returned to the Bar’s election company no later than midnight April 22. Members will have the option of returning the paper ballot or voting online, following the directions included with the ballot.
The winner will be sworn in at the Bar Annual Convention in June for a term ending in June 2016.
13th Circuit, Seat 1
Thomas R. Bopp
I have placed my name in nomination to be a representative of the 13th Judicial Circuit on The Florida Bar Board of Governors.
I have greatly enjoyed the practice of law over the past 34 years. Some of the most enjoyable and fulfilling years were those when I served on the YLD Board of Governors, 10 years as a member on the board of directors of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, and finally as president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association. While on the YLD Board of Governors, I served as chair of the Budget, Bridge the GAP, and Long Range Planning committees. Prior to serving as the president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, I chaired several committees of the HCBA, including the CLE Committee, Long Range Planning, Law Day, and as chair of the HCBA Standards of Professionalism. While on the YLD Board of Governors and as president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, I took on the responsibility of abolishing committees which were no longer effective or useful to the members of the HCBA and Young Lawyers Division. The Florida Bar needs to be fluid, and ensure that programs and committees continue to evolve with the changes that our members encounter. I would now like to have the opportunity to accomplish a similar goal and serve the lawyers of the 13th Judicial Circuit as a member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors.
In going into my 34th year as a lawyer, I remain very proud of my profession. I started the practice of law as an assistant state attorney for Hillsborough County and then joined Fowler, White, Boggs, Villareal and Banker, P.A., where I remained until 2008, at which time I was a founding partner of Banker Lopez Gassler, P.A. I believe I have the experience to provide diverse opinions in the formulation of the policy issues brought for consideration before The Florida Bar Board of Governors. Particular issues which I would hope to promote as your representative would be: (1) The continued protection of the judiciary’s independence to ensure adequate funding for the courts; (2) Enhancing professionalism and civility throughout the Bar; (3) Ensuring that The Florida Bar’s programs continue to focus on serving and benefiting its members; and (4) Increasing funding for government attorneys.
I believe that the Bar can do more in providing assistance to its members, and needs to listen to its members on a variety of issues that they encounter in their day-to-day practice. I am a native of Hillsborough County, Florida, and have been around the legal profession from a very young age. I believe that it is a lawyer’s obligation to give back to the profession and to be involved in Bar activities. I am certain that being a member of the Board of Governors would be an honor and an opportunity to continue to help my community, the profession, and the lawyers of Hillsborough County.
John D. Emmanuel
Earlier this year, I celebrated my 30th anniversary of being admitted to practice law in Florida. I wish that I could state that the practice of law has steadily improved during those 30 years, but we all know that our profession has gone through a number of changes during that time and we are facing even more challenges in the years ahead.
First of all, given the number of law schools in Florida, many of our new law school graduates are having extreme difficulty in locating jobs. As a result, many elect to set up their own practices right after passing the Bar and they are generally not receiving the kind of hands-on training they need and deserve. In addition, the economics of the practice of law continue to become more difficult as the cost of running a practice continues to increase. I believe that The Florida Bar should continue to focus its efforts and resources on these very real life challenges facing its membership.
My experience and prior Bar service make me qualified to serve as your representative. I have held leadership positions in the state Bar, including serving as the chair of the Business Law Section, as well as local bar organizations, including serving as the president of the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association. I have also served as the managing partner of my firm (Fowler White Boggs. P.A., now merged with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney) and know from that experience the challenges facing all of you in managing your own practices.
Our Florida attorneys have done an amazing job providing pro bono assistance to the poor. However, with the downturn in interest rates and the attendant reduction in IOTA funds, our legal service organizations have encountered tremendous cuts in funding. Serving the poor is not just a problem for our legal community, it affects employers and the community at large. I support the Bar’s efforts with those outside the legal industry to develop creative ways to tackle this problem.
In regards to my practice, I handle both state and federal commercial litigation matters as well as Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. I therefore have the privilege of appearing before our state circuit court judges, federal district court judges, and bankruptcy judges. I am consistently impressed with their dedication and hard work and know that The Florida Bar must continue to support them in doing their jobs so well.
It would be a great privilege to serve as your representative to the Board of Governors and I would greatly appreciate your vote and support.
Paige A. Greenlee
I am honored to run for the open seat for the 13th Judicial Circuit on the Board of Governors. It is important for our circuit to have a strong, innovative leader on the Board of Governors to continue and to build on the 13th Circuit’s tradition of Bar leadership. I believe my service at the local and statewide level, including as past president of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division (YLD) and as a member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors, make me uniquely qualified to serve as your representative, and it would be a privilege to earn your vote.
Following a judicial clerkship after law school, I moved to Tampa and have spent my entire career practicing here, primarily in the areas of business litigation and bankruptcy. I recently founded my own firm, have also practiced with a small firm, and prior to that was a partner with one of Tampa’s largest firms. These experiences will allow me to represent the diversity of interests in our circuit.
After moving to Tampa, I immediately got involved in local bar work, serving on the boards of directors of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers and the Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA) YLD, and was elected to represent our circuit on The Florida Bar YLD Board of Governors. I currently serve on the HCBA Board of Directors and was recently elected president of The Pearl Society, a women’s giving circle which raises funds for Bay Area Legal Services.
Statewide, I served as Florida Bar YLD president in 2012-13, which included serving on The Florida Bar Board of Governors for two years and as a member of board’s Executive Committee. I also serve on the Executive Council of the Business Law Section and was selected by the Board of Governors to the board of directors of The Florida Bar Foundation.
These leadership positions have given me tremendous insight into all aspects of the Bar, from lawyers’ ethics and discipline, to interaction with the legislative and executive branches, to overseeing the Bar’s more than $41 million budget. I also understand the important dynamic between the board, Bar sections, divisions, and committees, and the voluntary bar associations devoted to improving our profession.
Recent years have brought many changes to our profession. During my term as YLD president, we implemented projects to adapt to these challenges, including helping the Bar respond to evolving technology and assisting young lawyers with career development, mentorship, and practice assistance. As a member of the board, my priorities will include:
* Ensuring that the Bar continues to help both young and seasoned lawyers adapt to constantly changing technology through education and practice enhancement programs;
* Increasing access to justice, and expanding the role of the business community in this important initiative; and
* Improving professionalism, ethics, and civility among our membership.
It would be my privilege to represent and advocate for you on the Board of Governors, and I ask for your vote.
