Florida Congressman Tom Rooney Announces Run For Palm Beach County Judge, Won’t Seek Re-Election
By Nancy Lewis, Sunshine State News // August 12, 2018
Rooney: I like the autonomy of being a judge
(SUNSHINE STATE NEWS) – Five-term Florida Congressman Tom Rooney, who surprised Republican Party leaders by announcing in February he wouldn’t run for re-election, has applied for a county judgeship in Palm Beach County.
The judicial vacancy was created to replace Palm Beach County Judge Dana Santino who was removed from the bench July 2 by the Florida Supreme Court for violating judicial canons during the 2016 campaign.
Rooney and 31 other applicants are scheduled to interview with the Judicial Nominating Commission Aug. 27. The JNC then will send, at most, six names to Gov. Rick Scott and the governor will make the final decision for appointment. (See the full applicant list here.)
Over the years Rooney has often expressed frustration with Washington and concerns about the time away from his family that politics demands.
In a telephone interview Friday Rooney, 47, told Sunshine State News, “I’ve been thinking about this for a while, trying to prepare for life after Congress. And then a few weeks ago this vacancy came up.
“I think it would be a great fit for me,” he explained. “I love being in court. I used to be a prosecutor. I thought about joining a law firm, but I like the autonomy of being a judge.”
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