Name: Gregg Stuart Lerman
Date of Birth: June 20, 1960
Campaign Website: GreggLerman.com
Occupation: Criminal Defense Lawyer
Education: BA from the University of Florida – 1982
JD from Nova School of Law (now known as Nova Southeastern)
Work History: self employed
Why are you running for this office and what makes you the best candidate?
To quote Dave Aronberg: “there is a need for change and a new perspective in the office.” I agree. That can only happen by someone coming from the outside. It cannot come by simply elevating someone from the inside of the office. My 39 years of experience as a criminal defense attorney gives me unique insight into the causes of crime and what can be done to reduce it. It allows me a better understanding of how to reduce recidivism through policies that are adaptable to a given situation as well as creating better partnerships with the school system and other stakeholders to prevent people from entering the criminal justice system. Furthermore, issues such as elder fraud, drug addiction, mental illness and homelessness must be better dealt with by the system. Finally, the office must be held accountable to the public when law enforcement crosses a line. A badge is not a “hall pass” that puts someone above the law.
Have you ever been arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime, received a withheld adjudication, or had a matter sealed or expunged? If yes, explain.
I have never been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime.
Have you been a plaintiff or defendant in a civil action, including bankruptcy or foreclosure, or had a restraining order issued against you? If so, explain.
Elected state attorneys in Tampa and Orlando were suspended from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis based on prosecutorial discretion. Do you agree that he has the power to overrule local prosecutors’ discretion? Explain.
I do not believe the Governor has the power to suspend or remove an elected State Attorney. I believe the Florida Supreme Court is in conflict with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Salaries for assistant state attorneys remain low despite recent raises and turnover averages 20 percent. How would you address chronic turnover?
The legislature needs to provide more funding for Assistant State Attorneys. There is no reason that the Public Defender’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office should not be on equal footing, which they are not. One recent problem is the U.S. Attorney has been cherry picking the office of good lawyers as has the Office of the Statewide Prosecutor. It is difficult to compete with those offices. There needs to be some turner over but it needs to be better managed.
Was the 2020 presidential election conducted freely and fairly? Please elaborate.
The presidential election was fair in 2020 and I will not go down the conspiratorial rabbit hole. It is interesting that almost all those been prosecuted for election related crimes, be it mail in ballot fraud or false electors, are Republicans. The red-herring of convicted felons voting has been shown to be over blown and virtually non-existent. Those who di violate the law uniformly had an honest belief that they could in fact vote.
