Michael J. Scionti
Michael J. Scionti is a judge of the Florida 13th Circuit Court. He assumed office in 2014. His current term ends on January 5, 2027.
Scionti won re-election for judge of the Florida 13th Circuit Court outright in the primary on August 18, 2020, after the general election was canceled.
Scionti completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Scionti is a former Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 58 from 2006 to 2009.
Biography
Michael Scionti was born in Tampa, Florida.[1]
Education
Scionti earned his B.S. in criminal justice from Florida State University in 1990 and his J.D. degree from the South Texas College of Law in 1996. He graduated from the United States Army's Judge Advocate General School in 2000, Military Intelligence School in 2007, and Command and General Staff College in 2011.[2]
Military service
Scionti joined the United Sates Army Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps in 2000. He served as the team chief for the Trial and Litigation Section for the 174th Legal Operation Detachment, United States Army Reserve Legal Command. He voluntarily deployed twice, once to Iraq from 2003 to 2004 and once to Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008.[2]
Career
Prior to his judicial election in 2014, Scionti worked in the following capacities:
- Senior diplomat and foreign policy advisor for the rule of law and law enforcement, United States Department of State
- Attorney in private practice
- Representative, Florida House of Representatives, District 58
- Statewide prosecutor
- Assistant state attorney
- Assistant attorney general
- 1996: Admitted to the Florida Bar [2]
Awards and associations
Awards
- Bronze Star Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Army Commendation Medal
- Join Service Achievement Medal
- Army Achievement Medal
- North Atlantic Tread Organization Service Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- Iraq Campaign Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Armed Forces Reserve Service Medal
- Presidential Unit Award
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award[2]
Associations
Political career
Scionti represented District 58 of the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to December 13, 2009. Scionti resigned his seat after being appointed to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intergovernmental Affairs and Homeland Defense.[4]
Elections
2020
See also: Municipal elections in Hillsborough County, Florida (2020)
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Florida 13th Circuit Court
Incumbent Michael J. Scionti won election outright against Ashley Ivanov in the primary for Florida 13th Circuit Court on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Michael J. Scionti (Nonpartisan)  | 62.8 | 134,722 |
| Ashley Ivanov (Nonpartisan) | 37.2 | 79,666 | ||
| Total votes: 214,388 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
In 2020, Scionti received the following endorsements:[5]
- West Central Florida Labor Council
- Ironworkers, Local 397
- Teamsters, Local 79
- West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association
- Tampa Police Benevolent Association
- Hillsborough County Firefighters, Local 2294
- Tampa Firefighters, Local 754
- Greater Tampa Association of Realtors
- Tampa Bay Chamber (Past Board Chairs for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019)
- Julianne Holt (Public Defender, Hillsborough County, Florida)
- Les Miller (Chair, Hillsborough County Commission, Florida)
- Doug Belden (Tax Collector, Hillsborough County, Florida)
- Bob Henriquez (Property Appraiser, Hillsborough County, Florida)
- Janet Cruz (Senator, Florida State Senate)
- Luis Viera (Chair, Tampa City Council, Florida)
- Joe Citro (Member, Tampa City Council, Florida)
- Bill Carlson (Member, Tampa City Council, Florida)
- Alex Sink (Former Chief Financial Officer, Florida)
- Bob Buckhorn (Former Mayor, Tampa, Florida)
- Mark Ober (Former State Attorney, Hillsborough County, Florida)
- David Gee (Former County Sheriff, Hillsborough County, Florida)
- Tom Forward (Former Chief, Tampa Fire Department, Florida)
- Marsha Passmore (Former Vice Mayor, Plant City, Florida)
- F. Dennis Alvarez (Former Chief Judge, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County, Florida)
2014
- See also: Florida judicial elections, 2014
Michael Scionti defeated Michael John Brannigan in the primary election for Circuit Court Judge in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Group 19, Hillsborough County, Florida, on August 26, 2014. Scionti received 64.8% of the vote and his opponent Michael John Brannigan received 35.2% of the vote.[6][7]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Michael Scionti |
64.8% | 72,155 |
| Michael John Brannigan | 35.2% | 39,270 |
| Total Votes | 111,425 | |
Endorsements
- The Tampa Tribune[8]
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michael J. Scionti completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Scionti's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
FAIR - As a Circuit Court Judge, I serve as an instrument of justice ensuring that everyone is treated equally under the law.
- TRUSTED - As a Circuit Court Judge, I ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice and as a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and Commander, I lead Soldiers in the defense of our nation in support of global contingency operations.
- EXPERIENCED - As a Circuit Court Judge, I possess the depth and breadth of legal experience, spanning 25 years both in state and federal courts, at trial and appellate levels, and in civilian and military practice.
Children
Mental Health Disorders
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Ballotpedia currently provides campaign finance data for all federal- and state-level candidates from 2020 and later. We are continuously working to expand our data to include prior elections. That information will be published here as we acquire it. If you would like to help us provide this data, please consider donating to Ballotpedia.
Committee assignments
Scionti served on the following House committees:
- Finance & Tax Council
- Health Care Appropriations Committee (Ranking Minority Member)
- Health Care Regulation Policy Committee
- Health & Family Services Policy Council
- Rules & Calendar Council
Issues
Scionti did not provide answers to the Florida State Legislative Election 2008 Political Courage Test. The test informs voters how a candidate would vote on the issues if elected.[9] Scionti was deployed to Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008.[10]
Sponsored legislation
Scionti's sponsored legislation included:
- HB 39 - "Regulation of Drugs: Creates "Vaccine Safety Act;" prohibits sale, purchase, manufacture, delivery, importation, administration, & distribution of vaccines containing organic or inorganic mercury compounds in excess of certain amount."
- HB 87 - "Speed Zones at K-12 Schools: Requires installation of traffic & pedestrian control devices at certain K-12 schools unless traffic engineering analysis determines that devices are not necessary."
- HB 1339 - "County Powers and Duties: Authorizes counties to provide by ordinance for abatements & rebates of specified ad valorem taxes, discretionary sales surtaxes, & fuel taxes."
For details and a full listing of sponsored bills, see the House site.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 14, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Scionti for Judge, "About Scionti," accessed July 14, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed December 18, 2014
- ↑ [http://www.myfloridahouse.com/FileStores/Web/HouseContent/Approved/Minority%20Leader/Press%20Releases/Press%20Release%20-%20State%20Rep.%20Michael%20Scionti%2012.07.09.PDF Florida House of Representatives, "State Representative Michael Scionti Accepts Presidential Appointment as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense," December 7, 2009]
- ↑ Michael Scionti's campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed July 14, 2020
- ↑ Florida Secretary of State, “Candidate Listing for 2014 General Election,” accessed May 5, 2014
- ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Circuit Court Judge primary results," accessed August 27, 2014
- ↑ Tampa Bay Online, "Editorial: Our picks for the primaries," August 10, 2014
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Issue positions," accessed December 18, 2014
- ↑ Italian-Club, "SAM LETO AWARD," accessed April 30, 2020
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
