Photo for NSBNews.net / Headline SurferDAYTONA BEACH -- Recently retired Volusia County Judge Stasia Warren announced Tuesday she's running for state attorney in the 7th Judicial Circuit against first-term incumbent R.J. Larizza.
Terry Shoemaker of St. Augustine is a third candidate. All three are Republicans. If one of them doesn't secure a 50-percent plus one vote victory in the primary, then the top two vote-getters will face off in November.
Warren made her surprise announcement in a press release e-mailed to NSBNews.net / Headline Surfer and other media outlets, saying in part: “I have faithfully served the law and our community by delivering justice from behind the bench."
She added, "Several weeks ago, I submitted my resignation, stepping down because I felt I could best serve justice and our community in a different capacity.”
Warren was a Daytona Beach-based Volusia County judge for 21 years, before abruptly resigning March 27, without explanation, until now, saying that she wanted to “campaign for what is right.”
The state attorney is the chief law enforcer in the circuit, comprised of Volusia, Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns counties. Warren, Larizza and Shoemaker will be vying for votes in all four counties.
Warren said she's ready to fight for the top prosecutor spot in the circuit.
“I believe it is time to remove the politics from the office, streamline the administration and shift more money to where it should go, in trial attorneys that will prosecute criminals in our community,” she said.
Neither Larizza nor Shoemaker, both from St. Augustine, could be reached for comment Tuesday.
Warren plans to make a formal announcement of her campaign and hold her first campaign fundraiser at a kick-off party from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the law offices of George Pappas, David Russell and Marla Rawnsley, 213 Silver Beach Ave., in Daytona Beach. The event is open to the public.
FAST FACTS
* Stasia Warren served 21 years on the county bench, initially by election in 1990. Before that, she was in private practice and served as an assistant state attorney. She has also been a teacher.
* She earned her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and a law degree from the Detroit College of Law.
* Warren is the widow of former State Attorney Dan Warren and mother of Adam Warren, 37, an assistant state attorney in Daytona Beach, who is running for a judgeship created by the retirement of longtime Circuit Judge Peter Marshall.
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