Candidate: Benjamin B. Garagozlo

Family: -Married 25 years; -2 Adult Children born and raised in Brevard County - both graduates of Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy; -Daughter in medical school; -Son in his third year at UCLA. Education: Boston University - BA Ohio Northern University - JD ***************************** In 2006 Governor Jeb Bush appointed Benjamin Garagozlo as a Brevard County Court Judge. Endorsements: *Endorsed by the Brevard County Sheriff, the Honorable Wayne Ivy; *Endorsed by the State Attorney, the Honorable Phil Archer; *Endorsed by the Retired State Attorney, the Honorable Norman R. Wolfinger; *Endorsed by the Mayor of Town of Palm Shores, the Honorable Carol M. McCormack. Judicial experience: In his 8 years on the bench both as a County Court Judge and Acting Circuit Court Judge he has presided over 15,000 civil and criminal cases. *One of the highest ranked county court judges according to Brevard County Bar Association’s judicial polls. *Appointed by the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court to Florida’s Judicial Management Council. *He is a former Master with the Inns of Court – an organization devoted to preserving and elevating professionalism in the practice of law. Service to community: Judge Garagozlo believes that one should give back to the community: *Each week he volunteers as a driver with Meals on Wheels delivering food to home bound seniors and disabled individuals; *For the last ten years Judge Garagozlo has provided a scholarship through the Brevard County School District for a deserving high school graduate who seeks to further his or her education. Prior legal experience: Judge Garagozlo began his legal career as an associate with the Law Office of William J Sheaffer in Orlando Florida in 1987. Then in March of 1988, Judge Garagozlo became an Assistant State Attorney with the Office of the State Attorney, Brevard County, Florida. As a Prosecutor he handled cases ranging from misdemeanors up to homicides. In 1994 he entered private practice as a sole practitioner representing individuals in the areas of criminal defense and general trial practice. He has also represented police officers as an attorney with the local Fraternal Order of Police. He was also special counsel to the Brevard County School Board. After the events of September 11, 2001 Judge Garagozlo took a leave of absence from private practice to assist the Federal Government as an Assistant District Counsel with the U.S. Department of Justice and later with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He then returned back to Brevard Country and was privileged to represent his former clients such as the Brevard County School Board in terminating teachers who had committed acts of sexual and physical abuse against our students.