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Kristie Ruppe
I am running for County Court Judge because I care about our community and how it can be affected by decisions made by the local judiciary. It is my belief that the best interests of our community are not being served. 
I possess the experience, knowledge, and demeanor necessary to be an effective, fair and impartial county judge. I have been an attorney in Florida since 2003. Prior to that I was an attorney in New Jersey where I graduated from Rutgers School of Law in 2001. During law school I worked for the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, the Rutgers Special Education Rights Clinic, and was active in the Trial Advocacy Team.
In 2003 I followed my family to Florida, where I quickly obtained a position at the State Attorney’s Office in Pasco County. Prosecuting crimes was a rewarding experience and gave me important insight into the criminal justice system.
In 2005 I opened my own private practice in Spring Hill, focusing on criminal defense and education law and eventually broadening into civil and family law. It has been an honor and a privilege to aid members of our community through difficult times and I have valued every moment. I have represented my clients while striving for fairness and justice in our judicial system.
Since 1997, my husband has owned and operated Gator Nutrition Center in Spring Hill. We have three children; Jackson, ten years old and our twins, Aislin and Kingston, six years old. They are active in the community through athletics. Jackson plays football with i9 sports, Aislin enjoys soccer with First Hernando Youth Soccer, and Kingston excels at baseball with Spring Hill Dixie.
When not working or spending time with my children I enjoy volunteering at my church and acting as a volunteer judge for the Hernando County Youth Court program. I am also a board member with the Hernando Education Foundation, and a member of the Hernando Chamber of Commerce.
My diverse experience as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, and civil attorney, combined with my commitment to Hernando County uniquely qualify me for this judicial seat. As a county judge I will listen, adjudicate fairly, and apply the law without distinction, fear or favour. That is why I am asking for your vote on August 30, 2016.
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Sonny McCathran
Dear Hernando Voters,
My name is Sonny McCathran and I am currently your Hernando County Court Judge. I would like to share my qualifications and why you should vote for me to continue to serve as your Hernando County Court Judge. Throughout this campaign, I have embraced three meaningful words to express the ideals that best exemplify a judge: Experience, Integrity, and Justice.
Experience: My entire legal career has been in the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida which encompasses Hernando County. I began as your Hernando County Court Judge on April 7, 2014, and for the first 21 months presided over all civil cases to include: Landlord-Tenant cases; Small Claims; County Civil between $5,000 and $15,000; Personal Injury Protection cases; auto glass litigation; and claims filed under the Florida Consumer Collections Practices Act. At the beginning of 2016, in addition to civil disputes I began handling: civil traffic infractions; criminal traffic; and, misdemeanors cases. I continue to educate the public about the court system through community outreach presentations regarding the function of the County Court. 
I had the privilege to serve the people of the Fifth Judicial Circuit for 14 years as an Assistant State Attorney where I served as the supervisor of the Hernando County State Attorney’s Office for three years. My trial experience as a prosecutor includes in excess of 80 jury trials. I also worked as a private civil attorney for 3 years representing employers and carriers in Workers’ Compensation cases.
Integrity: A judge must hold themselves to the highest standards in both their personal and professional life and I do not become involved in situations that would compromise the integrity of the judicial office. The only financial contributions I will accept are from family members or close friends where the judicial canons would already require me to disqualify myself from the case. As an attorney I served as the Vice-Chair of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee 5B which is responsible for continuing the investigation of possible lawyer misconduct referred by Florida Bar discipline attorneys
Justice: I strive to treat everyone who comes before the Court in a fair and respectful manner. I apply the laws of the State of Florida and I am bound to follow the Constitution of the United States.
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The information on the table to the right is total contributions, in kind and expenditures until 4/30/16. The figures were obtained from the Supervisor of Elections website hernandovotes.com
Sonny McCathran:
Contributions: $30,000.00
In Kind: $993.00
Expenditures: $7,322.44
Kristie Ruppe:
Contributions: $12,167.00
In Kind: $5,674.52
Expenditures: $6,081.16