Leon County Judge: Riggans narrowly wins – Carswellfamilyfoundation

LaShawn Riggans narrowly won the open seat to become Leon County’s next circuit judge Tuesday, avoiding an automatic recount.

Riggans received 50.48%, and Tallahassee attorney Robert Churchill received 49.52%. But at one point the candidates were separated by just 67 votes.

By the end of the evening, nearly 131,000 votes had been counted, with Riggans receiving 66,072 and Churchill 64,804.

Florida law requires a machine recount if the prevailing candidate wins by less than 0.5%. The final difference between the two, according to the Leon County Supervisor of Elections website, was just under 1%.

During an October candidate forum hosted by the Tallahassee Democrat, WFSU and the League of Women Voters of Tallahassee, Riggans said she has been a public servant for most of her adult life.

She has dedicated her campaign to discussions about what is going right and wrong in the county and how she can best restore the public’s faith in the justice system. “People want to be heard,” she said. “And that’s what I’m here for.”

The candidates were advanced to the second round after he became the top two vote-getters in the August primary election in the race for the open judge seat now held by Judge Augustus Aikens Jr., who faces mandatory retirement under Florida law. (The judicial retirement age was changed by voters in 2018 from 70 to 75.)

In the primary, Churchill won with 43.5%, Riggans won nearly 31% and Sidney Brown — the third candidate eliminated in the first wave of voting — received nearly 26%, according to Florida’s congressional district website.

Riggans, 56, is a “consultant” at Nabors, Giblin and Nickerson law firm, also in Tallahassee, and was a deputy prosecutor for Leon County. An attorney refers to attorneys who work for a firm individually and not as an associate or partner.

In Florida, district judges hear misdemeanors, small claims cases, traffic violations, and landlord-tenant disputes, among other cases.

How much does this position pay? $186,034 per year.

When will the winner take office? January 7.

How long do judges serve? Six years per term.

Breaking News Reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at: [email protected]. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.