Leonard S. Villafranco
Leonard Silvio Villafranco was a candidate for the Group 6 seat on the Florida 19th Circuit Court in Florida. He was defeated in the primary election on August 30, 2016. Villafranco had previously ran for the St. Lucie County Court in 2014.
Biography
In 1982, Villafranco earned his B.S. from the State University of New York at Oswego. He earned his J.D. from the Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center in 2001. Since 2004, he has operated a solo legal practice, Leonard S. Villafranco, P.A. He was briefly an associate at Flannagan, Maniotis & Berger, P.A. that year before starting his firm.[1]
From 2002 to 2004, he was an associate at Rozelle & Call, P.A. He worked as an account executive with Franklin Press, Inc. in Miami (1985-2001) and with William Graphics, Inc. in Hauppauge, N.Y. (1983-1985). He was a teacher at Minerva Central School in Olmstedville, N.Y. for the 1982-1983 school year.[1]
Elections
2016
Florida's 20 circuit courts all had seats up for election in 2016. Of the 151 seats up for election, 125 saw only one candidate file for the election. The unopposed races were canceled and the sole candidates were automatically elected. Of the 26 opposed races, only 10 saw more than two candidates file. Candidates who received a majority of votes cast in the primary election on August 30, 2016, won the race and did not advance to the general election. Races where no candidate receives 50 percent plus one of the votes cast required a general election on November 8, 2016, between the top two primary vote recipients. Robert Meadows and Michael McNicholas defeated Kiernan Moylan and Leonard S. Villafranco in the Group 6 primary election for Florida's 19th Circuit Court.[2]
| Florida 19th Circuit Court, Group 6 Primary Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Robert Meadows |
32.07% | 32,828 |
| Michael McNicholas |
31.63% | 32,378 |
| Kiernan Moylan | 21.46% | 21,962 |
| Leonard S. Villafranco | 14.84% | 15,186 |
| Total Votes | 102,354 | |
| Source: Florida Department of State Division of Elections, "August 30, 2016 Primary Election," accessed December 19, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan elections
There are 597 judges on the Florida Circuit Court, each elected via nonpartisan elections. They serve six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to retain their seat.[3]
The chief judge is selected by peer vote and serves in that capacity for two years.
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:[3]
- a qualified elector;
- a state resident;
- admitted to practice law in the state for five years; and
- under the age of 75 (retirement at 75 is mandatory).
2014
See also: Florida judicial elections, 2014
Villafranco ran for election to the St. Lucie County Court.
Primary: He was defeated in the primary on August 26, 2014, receiving 19.6 percent of the vote. He competed against Kathryn Nelson, Roseanna Bronhard and Albert B. Moore.
[4][5]
Awards and associations
Awards
- 2012: Exceptional Pro Bono Service Recognition, Florida Supreme Court, Florida Pro Bono Services Coordination Association
- 2009-2010: Pro Bono Service Award, Florida Rural Legal Services
- 2006: Business & Industry Appreciation Award/Expansion Award, St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce [1]
Associations
- 2013: Board of directors, Mother's and Infants Striving for Success (M.I.S.S.) Inc. of the Treasure Coast
- 2013: Chairman, Park Committee, M.I.S.S. Inc. of the Treasure Coast
- 2010-Present: Friend member, Sunrise Theatre
- 2009-2010: President, Port St. Lucie Bar Association
- 2008-2009: Vice president, Port St. Lucie Bar Association
- 1995-1996: President, Parkwood VI Homeowner's Association
- Member, St. Lucie County Bar Association
- Member, Martin County Bar Association
- Member, Port St. Lucie Bar Association [1]
See also
- Florida 19th Circuit Court
- Florida local trial court judicial elections, 2016
- St. Lucie County Court
- Florida judicial elections, 2014
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Leonard S Villafranco for Saint Lucie County Judge - Group 4, "Biography," accessed July 29, 2014
- ↑ Florida Department of State, "Candidate Listing for 2016 General Election," accessed July 5, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial selection: Florida," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections, "Local Offices to be Elected in 2014," accessed June 11, 2014
- ↑ St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections, "St. Lucie County 2014 Primary," accessed August 27, 2014
Federal courts:
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida
State courts:
Florida Supreme Court • Florida District Courts of Appeal • Florida Circuit Court • Florida County Court
State resources:
Courts in Florida • Florida judicial elections • Judicial selection in Florida
