Orange-Osceola State Attorney Candidate Debate

Issues and Voices that Matter August 2, 2012

Orange-Osceola State Attorney Candidate Debate

Hear the fireworks between candidates Jeffrey L. Ashton and Lawson L. Lamar standing for election to hold the office of State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Orange and Osceola County, Florida. One of the two will be elected by voters in those counties on Tuesday, August 14, 2012. Length: 54:34

(Produced, reported and edited by Stephen McKenney Steck
Still photos – Charles E. Miller for CMF Public Media
Candidate forum recording assistance courtesy Boehm & Boehm Forensic Media Consulting)

Hear the candidates offer opening and closing remarks plus respond to 10 questions asked by a panel of local attorneys, and three questions posed by audience members. The candidate elected by voters will take office on January 1, 2013.

The event was recorded live Thursday, July 26, 2012 at The Ballroom at Church Street in downtown Orlando, Florida to an audience of more than 500 members and guests of the Orange County Bar Association and the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida. Lauren Rowe, news anchor at WKMG/Channel 6, the local CBS affiliate in Orlando moderated the event.

At the conclusion of the forum, members were asked to complete a straw poll noting their preference for one candidate or the other. The results — Lawson Lamar received 173 votes. Jeff Ashton received 152 votes.

The state attorney earns a current annual salary of $150,077, serves a 4-year term, and is not term limited. The Ninth Circuit maintains a staff of 356 people including 147 assistant state attorneys.