Well, I Lost

After a year-long campaign, I am coming to terms with the fact that I will not serve as the Public Defender for the 12th Judicial Circuit. I congratulate Larry Eger on his victory and I wish him and the office well. I won't lie, it was a very tough week, and perhaps I will write more about that in the future. At this point I want to thank everyone who played a role in my campaign. As soon as you start naming people you run the risk of forgetting somebody important. But for starters, I would like to thank everyone who voted for me. I received 5,132 votes in DeSoto County, 65,345 votes in Manatee County, and 97,052 votes in Sarasota County. I very much appreciate the trust and confidence that I received from these voters. Several hundred people also made financial contributions to my campaign. Whether you contributed five dollars or five hundred dollars, I really appreciate this tangible show of support.

I would like to thank the Democratic Executive Committees in DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota Counties for all of the assistance you provided. I also want to thank the North Port Democratic Club, the Venice Democratic Club, the Englewood Democratic Club, the Sarasota Democratic Club, the Manatee Sarasota Black Caucus, the Longboat Key Democratic Club, the Island Democratic Club, the Southeast Manatee Democratic Club, the North River Democratic Club, and the Manatee Democratic Women's Club for all of the opportunities, volunteers, financial support and encouragement that you provided. I have many fond memories of all of the wonderful people that I encountered along the campaign trail and I hope to continue to see you all.

In particular, I must thank my treasurer Dottie Markley-Blizman. I don't think she had any idea of what a big job she was in for when she volunteered. Thank you also to Luis Trujillo, my outstanding graphics designer, for all of your patience and talent. And thanks to Colin Boyle, Lowell Gilbertson and Laura Gilkey for your assistance with my web page and internet campaign. Most of all, I must thank my wife, Regina Tebrugge, who gathered petitions, dug post-holes, stuffed envelopes, waved at cars, solicited voters and put up with my mood swings during the campaign.

As for my future the crystal ball is a bit cloudy. I hope to continue writing and perhaps will consolidate all of my blogs, this one, Homeless in Sarasota-Bradenton, and Sarasota Criminal Justice Reform. I will also continue to host my television program, "Law and Sarasota' at least for the near future. Regina and I are frugal and debt free and so I can stay retired from practicing law if I so choose. While I am disappointed at how the last chapter in my life concluded, I look forward to next one, whatever it may be.

Public Defender's Race as of Wednesday Morning

UNOFFICIAL ELECTION NIGHT RETURNS
(may not include absentee or provisional ballots)

Public Defender
Circuit 12

Larry Eger Adam Tebrugge

Desoto 4,228 5,131
Manatee 51,121 43,916
Sarasota 91,658 96,841
Total 147,007 145,888

% Votes 50.2% 49.8%