The Konk Life Candidate Questionnaire: Conducted by Mark Howell
Sharon Isabel Hamilton
Sharon Hamilton of Tavernier has filed to run against Robert Stober of the firm of Hershoff Lupino and Yagel to replace Monroe County Judge Reagan Ptomey, who is retiring, after 28 years on the bench.
Hamilton was born in Miami where she and her brother were raised by a mother who worked as an administrative assistant the Copacabana alongside the likes of Cab Callaway and Sammy Davis, Jr. and “who is my hero,” she declares.
Hamilton attended school in Miami and later Fort Lauderdale, and graduating from Flagler College and then Nova University Law School where she met Michael Crimella, whom she married the same year she took the Florida Bar Exam.
Thy honeymooned in the Bahamas and returned to the Florida Keys where Michael was hired as an assistant state attorney. She and Mike both ended up working in Marathon, he at the state attorney’s office and she for attorney John Conlin. Later they both became partners with the law firm of Cunningham, Miller, Heffernan, Crimella, Hamilton & Wolfe.
Over her almost 30 years in Monroe County, Sharon has dedicated much of her time to the vulnerable children the community, serving as chief Judge designee on the community-based Care Alliance Board for the abused, abandoned and neglected children of Monroe County. In 2005, Sharon went to work for the Monroe County court system and moved to Tavernier where she and her husband live on their sailboat.
Here are our 15 questions of the candidate and her responses:
Q. In 20 words or less, let our readers know the reasons in general that you believe you would make the very best person to fulfill the position for which you are running.
A. Over 27 years of legal experience in Monroe County allows me to be able to do this job on day one.
Q. What specifically are the top four factors you believe qualify you over the assets of any other potential candidate?
A. I am the only candidate who has presided in the quasi-judicial position as a General Magistrate in trials, motions and hearings of all types in more than 4000 cases on behalf and making recommendations to Judges Taylor, Audlin, Slaton, Becker, Garcia and Judge Ptomey.
I am the only candidate with criminal jury trial experience and who served on the Criminal Conflict Court Appointed List receiving criminal case appointments from the judges of Monroe County. The caseload for this position is over 50 percent criminal and criminal first appearances and warrant reviews are also a required duty.
I am the only candidate who has dependency case experience, which is children who are alleged to have been abused, abandoned or neglected. This is also a requirement for the Duty Judge in conducting Shelter Hearings and making the decision on wether the child is returned to the home or continues in shelter care.
Lastly I am the only candidate with extensive Family Domestic Violence case experience. This is also a requirement of the Duty Judge in reviewing these petitions and determining if an injunction is denied or granted and what the details are if granted.
Q. What is your personal view on the state of the nation in this year’s particularly interesting political season?
A. As a Judicial Candidate I am not permitted to have a public view on the State of the Union in the political season. A Judicial Candidate must remain impartial and stay out of politics as a separation of the branches of government.
Q. Given your personal awareness of governance in Southeast Florida, are you optimistic about relations between the public and the powers that be?
A. Keeping with the answer above I am not permitted to have a public opinion on the governing branch but I can say I am a positive person so I am always optimistic about everything.
Q. Do you feel that the general tenor of political discourse is becoming less polite in Monroe County or staying about the same?
A. I have always said that we live in a beautiful place and after the election we will continue to live in this wonderful community. There should be no enemies we are all just trying to serve.
Q. Tell us more about your personal history –- your work and family life –- and how they relate to your political ambitions.
A. My brother and I were raised solely by our divorced mother. She taught me about hard work, ethics and treating people the way you would want to be treated. I believe that I have shown these qualities in my over 27 years of service to the people of Monroe County and that is why so many people asked me to run for Judge.
I of course could not be in this race if not for the support of my husband, Michael Crimella. His love, encouragement and knowledge are a blessing.
My legal career has been dedicated to Monroe County. Whether it was in private practice, working in the protection of the vulnerable children of our community or the 10 years I served in Court Administration and as a General Magistrate it has been throughout our county from Key Largo to Key West.
Q. From your personal experience, would a generally peaceable outlook in the Keys depend upon a measure of control over the number of our visitors and residents?
A. Who can predict the future? How would that happen?
Q. What do you personally love most about Monroe County and the Florida Keys?
A. The way the people of this community come together to help each other.
Q. What troubles you the most about today’s Monroe County and the Florida Keys?
A. Nothing. It is the best place to live. My husband and I were offered higher paying jobs out of law school but we wanted the small town community that is Monroe County.
Q. What planning or political mistakes do you personally believe were the worst to be inflicted on the Keys over the past decade?
A. As a Judicial Candidate I am not permitted to have a public opinion on political mistakes.
Q. Who is your favorite character in the history of the keys?
A. Captain Tony.
Q. Who is your least favorite character?
A. Can’t think of one.
Q. What is your favorite book?
A. “Winds from the Carolinas” by Robert Wilder.
Q. What is your favorite movie?
A. “Avatar.”
Q. What is your favorite quote?
A. “In the end it is not about the years in your life it is about the life in your years.”
– Abraham Lincoln.
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