A Board Certified Criminal Trial Attorney

In 1999, I became a board certified criminal trial attorney in the Florida Bar. Board certification means that I can hold myself out as an expert or specialist in the field of criminal law. To achieve certification. I had to show that I had handled at least 25 criminal trials, submit references from judges and fellow attorneys, and pass a difficult examination designed to test the breadth and depth of your knowledge of criminal law. Certification is the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the area of law approved for certification. I took the extra step to be come board certified because I wanted my clients at the Public Defender's Office to have confidence that their attorney was top notch. When choosing your next elected Public Defender, I believe that you should vote for the only candidate who can demonstrate this extra level of competence in the field.

It was another great week of campaigning in Venice, Sarasota and Bradenton. Bob Sweat, Supervisor of Elections in Manatee County, spoke at the Bar Association lunch and gave a detailed overview of his work year. Representative Keith Fitzgerald continues to impress audiences in Sarasota and Venice with his detailed understanding of state government. WSLR held a musical beach picnic on Siesta Key that attracted a big crowd of fans. The Venice Jazz festival drew hundreds of people to Blalock Park on a warm Saturday afternoon. Riverview overpowered my Booker Tornadoes in the fourth quarter before thousands of people on a beautiful Friday night. The residents of Bay Village turned out to hear the Democratic candidates give their vision for the future. Joan Donnelly in Sarasota, and Lucille Burke in Bradenton hosted lovely receptions for my campaign. And I was at all of these places, trying to meet every last voter, especially since absentee ballots have already been mailed.

This week features several debates between myself and my opponent for Public Defender, Larry Eger. We will be at the Bradenton Kiwanis club at lunch on Tuesday, at the League of Women Voters "Food for Thought" on Wednesday morning, and then tape our television debate for local news channel SNN. I also have several receptions and fundraisers planned for the week, and in our spare time Regina and I might put up another sign or two. It is hard to believe that there are just 36 days until the election. Hopefully I will see you soon!

Watch Adam Tebrugge on Voice For Democracy

On Sunday, September 28, channel 21 (Comcast) at 9:00 p.m., Adam Tebrugge, Democratic candidate for Public Defender, will be interviewed on the program " "Voice for Democracy." Adam discusses the history and mission of the Public Defender's Office, his legal career in Sarasota, and his goals for improving our local criminal justice system. Please help get the word out to others to watch "Voice for Democracy" this Sunday night.

Senator Bill Nelson in Sarasota

Senator Bill Nelson has made several trips to Sarasota recently to support local Democratic candidates and address citizens about pending issues. Last Friday, the Senator was here to support Morgan Bentley's campaign for the Florida State Senate. Nelson had just gotten off of a conference call with Treasury Secretary Paulson and members of Congress. He dispensed with the usual pleasantries and immediately began a detailed discussion of the country's financial crisis. In the picture above, you can see Tax Collector Barbara Ford Coates and Morgan Bentley listen intently as Senator Nelson described the circumstances that led the markets into this problem. Later that evening he went into even more detail at the Sarasota County Bar Association's annual dinner, creating a somewhat somber atmosphere in an otherwise festive evening. I could not really blame Senator Nelson for being in a grim mood and I was impressed with his grasp of detail and his willingness to work across the aisle to find solutions.

I also attended the kickoff luncheon for the South County United Way, and was reminded that need is greatest when crisis arrives. It was inspiring to see hundreds of service providers and employers from North Port, Venice, Nokomis and Laurel, joining together to help others. In Sarasota, we had an excellent event at the Bacalao sports bar on Tuttle and 17th where Latin-American voters were targeted. I also had the privilege of addressing the Southeast Manatee Democratic Club about my campaign. Regina and I are still putting up signs, and supporters are hosting meet and greets for me to help get out the word.

Look for another post in a day or so about some of my qualifications that set me apart in this race. As always, thanks for reading.

Public Defender Campaign Update

I hope that you have been following my campaign to be elected Public Defender of the 12th Judicial Circuit (Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties). I believe that our Public Defender must provide leadership in the courtrooms and in the community. When you are deciding whom to support, please keep in mind:

--I am the only candidate who is qualified to prepare, litigate and supervise death penalty cases;

--I am the only candidate who is a board certified criminal trial attorney;

--I am the only candidate with experience training attorneys throughout the State of Florida;

--I am the only candidate who has received the Freedom Award for Public Service presented by the Sarasota branch of the NAACP, and the Jim Slater award for professionalism in the practice of criminal law.

I have devoted my entire professional life to the Public Defender's Office and to our community. Now I need your help to get elected. Would you please consider making a contribution to my campaign to help me tell others about my qualifications? You can go to my web-site right now, or mail a check to the Adam Tebrugge campaign, 2337 Ixora Avenue, Sarasota, Florida 34234. You can also forward this e-mail to anyone you think might be interested in my campaign. And finally, please tell your friends and neighbors and relatives:

"This November, Please Remember, Vote Adam Tebrugge, for Public Defender."

I sincerely thank you for taking the time to read this, and for all of your ongoing support.

Adam Tebrugge

Political Advertisement paid for and Approved by Adam Tebrugge, Democratic Candidate for Public Defender, 12th Circuit.

Happy Birthday Lyn Tebrugge

Today, September 8th, is my mother's birthday. Lyn Mary Cox Tebrugge grew up in Ft. Myers, Florida, the oldest daughter of Norman and Mimi Cox. Norman was a cattle rancher and gladiolus grower and a powerhouse personality. Lyn and her two sisters, Nancy and "Boo," have remained close over the years despite making their homes in different states.

Lyn graduated from the University of Florida and as a young woman, was given a column in the Tampa Tribune. While attending an art installation in Tampa, she met an architect by the name of George Tebrugge. They were married on December 31, 1960, and their son Norman Adam Tebrugge, was born on December 7, 1961. Caroline ("Kitty") McCrae entered the world on July 31, 1964. Recently Lyn had some of our old movies from this time transferred to a DVD. The films show a glamorous young mother dressed in sharp outfits from the early 60's tending to two well groomed children.

My mother helped instill in me my love of politics. One of my earliest memories is attending an appearance by the Republican nominee for president, Richard Nixon, when he came to Tampa in 1968. Suitably inspired, Lyn and I went door to door for Hubert Humphrey in that tumultuous year. Later she got me involved with Bob Shevin's campaign for Governor of Florida. Lyn remains well read and interested in her state and nation to this day and has recently been canvassing for Senator Obama.

My mother was also part of the large wave of women who re-entered the workforce in the 1970's. Motherhood was important to her but she also felt a drive to help others, primarily through education. Ultimately she found her perfect job at the University of South Florida in Tampa, where she worked primarily with nontraditional students, helping them adjust to university life. When she retired a few years ago, a tree was planted in honor of "Mother U.S.F." in recognition of her many contributions. While at U.S.F., she became familiar with a small liberal arts college in Sarasota that had been taken over by the University after financial struggles. New College was still finding its way in the late 1970's but Lyn thought that the school was a good fit for her son, and so it was.

So Happy Birthday Mom!. Thank you for bringing me into the world, introducing me to politics and books, and getting me to Sarasota where I have spent so many good years. Lyn now lives in Tarpon Springs and volunteers at the spectacular Leepa-Ratna Museum of Art, located on the campus of St. Petersburg Junior College. The campaign has prevented us from seeing much of one another recently, but I wanted to express my love and honor for her on this special day.

My Goals For the Public Defender's Office

I was employed by our Public Defender’s Office for 23 years and had the opportunity to work extensively in our offices in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. I have a good understanding of the challenges of our local court system, and when I am elected, I will be making justice work by implementing the following:

IMPROVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR OUR CLIENTS
---Improve training of attorneys in the office;
--Hire more Spanish speaking attorneys and staff;
--Improve and expedite representation of clients in jail;
--Implement discharge planning for sentenced inmates to reduce recidivism.

COST EFFECTIVE ADMNISTRATION
--Work with Judges and Clerk’s to ensure we only represent the truly indigent;
--Closely monitor costs to make better use of available funds;
--Foster positive employee relations in the office and with the community;
--Be a voice for common sense on local criminal justice issues.

What else would you like to see me focus on? What experiences have you had with the Public Defender's Office? Drop me a line at Adam@Adam4pd.info.

In Wind and Rain and Sun

The Republican primary election was held in the Public Defender race for the 12th Judicial Circuit last Tuesday. Ron Filipkowski won DeSoto County (by two votes) and Sarasota County (by about 300 votes), but Larry Eger won Manatee County (by around 700 votes) and was finally declared the winner on Wednesday with a total margin of 425 votes). I congratulate Larry and I feel for Ron who worked very hard to secure the nomination.

Now that the primary is over I am happy to start getting my signs up and out in the community. This past weekend, friends volunteered to help us post signs in all three counties. Now you might recall that Hurricane Gustave was moving past the coast of Southwest Florida with associated bands of wind and rain. Regina and I were standing in mosquito infested fields, watching lightning streak the sky, digging muddy holes. We would occasionally pull down the sign of a candidate who lost last week and reflect and appreciate the effort that they put into running for office. After a full day on Saturday, we went out on Sunday to check our signs, only to find that the winds had snapped some of our 2 x 4s. We repaired the damaged poles and spent the afternoon in DeSoto county where we worked until twilight through the intermittent showers. I kept telling Regina that at least it wasn't broiling hot. She was a great wife to spend her weekend putting up signs with me and so I would like to say: "Regina I Love and Appreciate You!"

The other big news of the week revolved around the presidential campaign. The Obama team opened an office in Bradenton and a large crowd turned out to help. On Thursday night there were parties throughout the area to watch his acceptance speech and I decided to attend one at the Beach House on Bradenton Beach. About 150 Democrats turned out but wahat was really impressive was when other patrons of the restaurant decided to join the fun. I was able to capitalize on the excitement and meet a lot of new people, all of whom promised me they would vote.

The Manatee County NAACP had postponed their banquet due to Tropical Storm Fay but it still turned out to be a tremendous success. The attendance was great, the food was good, and the speeches and awards were inspirational. I also enjoyed participating in the Englewood Pioneer Day parade and the Palmetto Labor Day picnic. Thank you for your continued support and be sure to keep checking in as I begin to discuss the issues in this race.