MONDAY
August 13, 2018
Michael Freed on the big changes planned to reinvent the ABA PAGE 5
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PUBLIC LEGAL NOTICES BEGIN ON PAGE 6
Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
Primary election, Daily Record dismal turnout
ELECTION 2018
JACKSONVILLE
Early voting is underway in Duval County through Aug. 26. Election Day is Aug. 28. Where to vote, Page 4.
In 4-3 decision, court will hear case on whether governor can appoint replacement in the 4th Judicial Circuit.
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
Duval County voter participation usually is low in nonpresidential election years, but the partisan divide could change that.
BY MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR
JACKSONVILLE
BY MAX MARBUT
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
I
Supreme Court will hear judge dispute
f it’s true that if you don’t vote, you shouldn’t complain about government, about eight out of 10 registered voters will need to keep their opinions to themselves after Aug. 28. That’s because voter turnout for primary elections in Duval County, particularly such as the one currently underway, averages only about 20 percent. The Aug. 28 primary election might not follow that trend. The historically low turnout for primaries can be attributed to multiple reasons, said Rick Mullaney, director of the Public Policy Institute at Jacksonville University’s Davis College of Business. The system of closed primary elections in Florida is one contributing factor, he said. In Duval County, nearly 22 percent of voters are registered as No Party Preference, which precludes them from helping put their favored Democrat or Republican on the ballot in November. Also, with three months remaining until the winner of each office will be decided, Mullaney said many voters aren’t confident that they know enough SEE ELECTION, PAGE 4
Duval County general election voter turnout Presidential election years drive the biggest turnouts in Duval County. Nov. 8. 2016
Eligible voters: 587,961
Nov. 4. 2014
552,164
Nov. 6. 2012
559,746
Nov. 10. 2010
527,079
Nov. 4. 2008
536,584
Nov. 7. 2006
537,462
74.82% turnout*
Total vote: 439,941
273,462
49.52%
414,111
265,462
73.98%*
50.36%
77.84%*
417,666
227,379
42.31%
The state Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction Thursday in a dispute over whether Gov. Rick Scott has the authority to appoint a replacement for a 4th Judicial Circuit judge who resigned before his term expired, rather than put the seat up for election. In a 4-3 decision, the court agreed to hear David P. Trotti v. Rick Scott and scheduled 20-minute oral arguments for each party at 9 a.m. Oct. 2. Justices Bar- Trotti bara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince and Jorge Labarga concurred in the decision. Chief Justice Charles Canaday and Justices Alan Lawson and Ricky Polston dissented. The dispute began when Circuit Judge Robert Foster tendered his resignation to Scott on April 2, before the qualifying period for the Nov. 6 general election began. He resigned effective Dec. 31, four business days before his term in office was to expire on Jan. 7. Foster is ineligible to retain his seat because he reached the mandatory retirement age, 70, for judges. Trotti, a Jacksonvile attorney, submitted his name and qualifying fee to the state Department
*Presidential election Source: Duval County Supervisor of Elections
SEE COURT, PAGE 5
IN THE LAW
Casey Arnold inspired by father, baseball coach PAGE 16 VOLUME 105, NO. 189 • ONE SECTION