Key West Attorney Michael "Mick" Barnes and Tavernier Attorney Mark Kohl are vying in Tuesday's Republican primary to see who will go head-to-head with incumbent State Attorney Kirk Zuelch in the general election in November. This newspaper has previously endorsed Mick Barnes— who is running on a platform of equal justice for all— because we believe he can beat Zuelch in November. He already does that in the courtroom on a routine basis:
• Barnes was the attorney for Nick and Carrie Nowatney. When Zuelch falsely accused them of child abuse, took their children and held them hostage for 200 days, Mick Barnes beat him in the courtroom.
• When Zuelch falsely accused Duval Street emerald merchant Manuel Marcial of theft, Mick Barnes was signed on as co-counsel. It only took the jury 35 minutes to return a "not guilty" verdict.
• When Zuelch put Duck Tour Safaris out of business by falsely accusing president John Murphy of a criminal offense, Attorney Mick Barnes beat him in the courtroom. It only took the jury 15 minutes to return a "not guilty" verdict.
These are just a few examples of Zuelch's selective prosecution and abuse of power. But to give Barnes the opportunity to challenge Zuelch in November, Republican voters must go to the polls Tuesday.
See related commentary on page 1.
As we did four years ago, KWTN is endorsing Phil Mandina for Sheriff. Here's our rationale:
First of all, it's simply time for a change. Nobody should be elected Sheriff For Life. Last year, to his credit, Sheriff Roth did announce that he was retiring. A couple of his friends, based on his assurance that he really was retiring, made plans to run. But Roth suddenly changed his mind, leaving his friends twisting in the wind.
And then there's that business about taking money from a drug smuggler. Twenty years ago, Roth told a polygraph operator that he had taken $100 from Charles Parry, a man who was subsequently convicted of drug smuggling. Roth said he felt uncomfortable about that, but, he said, he considered it a loan and he wanted to pay it back— but he didn't know how to contact Parry.
Well, earlier this year, the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement, in the process of investigating Parry's "loan" to Roth, tracked Parry down in Georgia. We asked Roth if, now that he knows where Parry is, he plans to send him $100. He changed his tune.
"Parry knows where I am," Roth said. "If he wants his $100, he can call me."
What we found interesting about this entire little saga is that Roth apparently knew that Parry was a drug smuggler as early as 1980, when he first expressed "regret" that he had taken the money. But Parry wasn't arrested until 1989! Hmmm . . .
Phil Mandina has the qualifications to be Sheriff. just because Roth changed his mind doesn't
mean that it's not time for a change.
There are three Republican candidates for County Commission facing off in Tuesday's primary— former Key West Mayor Sonny McCoy, architect/planner Sullins Stuart and Attorney Jiulio Margalli. They are vying for the seat being vacated by Commissioner Shirley Freeman. All seem capable of doing the job.
But to tell you the truth, it's difficult to summon up much enthusiasm when writing about how a new face might improve the Commission. With the exception of Mary Kay Reich, our County Commissioners often seem, at best, bumbling; and, at worst, simply clueless.
Fortunately, with incorporation fever sweeping over the Keys, the County Commission is becoming increasingly irrelevant. Soon it will be managing only the libraries and airports— and, of course, continuing to pay part-time County Attorney Jim Hendrick, his law firm and selected friends, millions of dollars a year. And, probably, continuing to develop more office space for the bloated county workforce.
Frankly, unless it's just a lust for the $37,660 salary, we really can't fathom why anyone would want the job of County Commissioner. But McCoy, Stuart and Margalli say they want to do it.
Both McCoy and Stuart would bring impressive credentials and experience to the job. But both would bring baggage and political allegiances, too.
So . . . as we often do, we're endorsing the underdog candidate, Attorney Jiulio Margalli. We think he would bring to the County Commission a fresh set of eyes and ears, unencumbered by political IOUs. Imagine that!