State Attorney Kirk Zuelch has kicked off his campaign for reelection by putting the arm on local attorneys for contributions. "For the first time since I was elected 20 years ago, it appears that there may be opposition in the upcoming Fall election," he said in a letter sent to many area lawyers.
Zuelch has been under fire in recent months for his alleged selective prosecution in the Mosquito Control Board job fix scandal and his role in the more recent prosecution of Nick and Carrie Nowatney because they wouldn't plead guilty to child abuse. Judge Mark Jones dismissed that case this week.
Zuelch will have at least one opponent. This week, Tavernier attorney Mark Kohn filed his candidacy with the Supervisor of Elections.
Kate Manaher, a senior from Key West High School, has won a $1,000 scholarship in Scantron Corporation's fifth annual Future Educators of America Scholarship Competition. Manaher was among 10 winners selected from more than 1,100 entries.
The competition was open to all high school seniors in Florida, California and Texas with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and the desire to pursue a teaching career. Entrants were required to submit an application and a 500-word essay on the topic "Education in the New Millennium." Judging was conducted by a panel of business and education professionals.
Manaher, who plans to attend DePaul University in Chicago, may apply her scholarship winnings toward tuition, fees and/or books.