Candidate: Sheree H. Lancaster

Judge Lancaster was first elected to serve as Gilchrist County Judge in 2012, making history becoming the first woman to hold the position. “It has been my honor to serve the citizens of Gilchrist County for the last 5 years as their County Judge,” said Judge Lancaster. “As I announce my campaign for re-election, my pledge to Gilchrist County remains unchanged: to dutifully carry out this job with fairness and integrity.” During her judicial term, Judge Lancaster was awarded the “J. Min Ayers Lifetime Achievement Award” presented by the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce for her “longtime commitment and dedication to our community.” In addition, Judge Lancaster was awarded the “One Team…One Mission” award presented by the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to community recognition, County Judge Lancaster was elected by her Eighth Judicial Circuit County Judge peers to serve as the Eighth Judicial Circuit’s representative to the Board of Directors of Florida’s Conference of County Court Judges. Judge Lancaster successfully completed Phases I and II of Judicial College, DUI Adjudication Lab, and Advanced Judicial Studies. She annually attends judicial education programs presented by the Conference of County Court Judges. Judge Lancaster has presided over hundreds of cases for County Court, including misdemeanor, criminal traffic, landlord/tenant, small claims, county civil and civil traffic. Judge Lancaster has also presided, by special assignment of the Chief Judge, over Circuit Court matters, including family, dependency, juvenile delinquency, probate, mental health, felony and civil cases. Citizens with questions are urged contact Sheree Lancaster at (352) 463-6559 or (352) 215-3606. ABOUT SHEREE LANCASTER JUDICIAL SERVICE: Sheree Lancaster was first elected to Gilchrist County’s judiciary in 2012, taking the bench in 2013. This is her first re-election campaign. From 1998 until 2012, Mrs. Lancaster served as a Judicial Hearing Officer for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, hearing cases and making recommended orders to Circuit Judges in Child Support cases. LEGAL EXPERIENCE: Sheree Lancaster is a member of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association, serving numerous terms on its Board of Directors, and a member of The Florida Bar. Mrs. Lancaster previously served on the Board of Directors of the Guardian Foundation, Inc., serving dependent children of the Eighth Judicial Circuit. She served as President from 2007 – 2009. As the Gilchrist County School Board attorney, Sheree was a member of the Florida School Board Attorneys Association from 1990-2012, served on the Board of Directors, and was honored to serve as President of the statewide organization. Mrs. Lancaster was a member of the National School Boards Association - Counsel of School Attorneys, and the American Bar Association. Mrs. Lancaster became Board Certified by The Florida Bar as a specialist in Education Law in 2012, maintaining the certification through 2017. She served as a volunteer with the Supreme Court's Justice Teaching Program, volunteering as a speaker in Gilchrist County schools. OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: After graduating from the University of Florida and prior to attending law school at the University of Florida, Mrs. Lancaster was a juvenile probation officer for one year, and a child protective services counselor in Gilchrist County for two years. COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE: Mrs. Lancaster is a member of Cherry Sink Church of Christ, and an active member of the Gilchrist County Woman's Club since 1986, holding many offices, including President. She has been a member of the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce for over thirty-one years and previously served on the Board of Directors and as President. Mrs. Lancaster is a member of the Trenton Quarterback Club, the Trenton Rotary Club, the Character Council of Gilchrist County, and the Gilchrist County Cattlemen's Association. Sheree is a longtime supporter of civic organizations, including The Education Foundation of Gilchrist County, Inc. She was responsible for filing the organization’s Articles of Incorporation in 1992, and hosting the first two annual Wild Beast Feasts with her husband at the family farm. Judge Lancaster supports 4-H, FFA, the Gilchrist County Schools. She has continued, and looks forward to, the 5th grade Mock Trials that were initiated by the late Gilchrist County Judge Edward Philman. PERSONAL Sheree Lancaster is the daughter Margaret W. Hiers of Chiefland and the late J.D. “Bud” Hiers, Jr. She has been married for over thirty-three years to Howell E. Lancaster, Jr., and they are the proud parents of two children, Deen Lancaster and Trip Lancaster, and they also helped rear Franne Langford Martin. They are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren.