Naples attorney running for county judge

A month before the qualifying period to run for Collier County judge, Naples attorney Mike Carr is already ready to go.

Carr, 59, the former Collier County Republican Executive Committee chairman, has announced his candidacy for judge. He filed the paperwork Wednesday.

Carr has been a Naples criminal defense and civil attorney since he moved to Collier in 1989. He's a former Alachua County deputy who ran for state attorney in 2002. He received about 21 percent of the vote, losing to Steve Russell.

A county judge hears misdemeanor cases and civil lawsuits of less than $15,000 in total value in dispute. Collier has five such judges, so this new position will be the sixth. The qualifying period, when candidates officially can file their paperwork and pay the filing fee, is July 17 to July 21.

The election will be Sept. 5 on the primary ballot.

Carr was selected a year ago by Gov. Jeb Bush to serve on the Florida Ethics Commission.

"I'm the first person from this area to be picked for that because the governor shares my view that we need to have honest government, that government shouldn't be picking the citizens' pockets like ours was for so many years," Carr said.

Naples defense attorney Mike Carr

Judicial candidates are barred by state judicial ethics rules from partisan campaigning or even divulging their party affiliation. Instead, as they campaign, they can talk only about why they believe they're qualified to serve as judge and why they want to do so.

"I think it's a great opportunity to do some good. I liked what I was doing as a deputy. I like what I'm doing as a defense attorney. I've never been a judge before, but I know I'd enjoy that too. I just think it would be a great way to do some good," Carr said.

Carr is so far unopposed for the position, but candidates have until July 21 to file officially.

His campaign already has a fundraiser scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. July 7 at the Collier Athletic Club, Carr said.