As Tampa’s murder rate and violent crime rate continues to skyrocket, not a single sheriff, law enforcement agency or organization has endorsed Castor’s campaign, while Judge has received numerous endorsements by those in local and state law enforcement.
TAMPA, Fla. – The organization that represents more than 26,000 Florida law enforcement officers has decided to endorse James Judge for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida’s 14th Congressional District, the Judge campaign announced Thursday.
On Wednesday evening, the Florida Police Benevolent Association, “the Voice of Florida’s Law Enforcement Officers,” notified Judge of their endorsement.
“The Florida Police Benevolent Association, Inc. is proud to inform you of our endorsement of your candidacy for United States Representative, District 14. We will ask our members, their friends and families, and all citizens in the district who respect the strong and efficient enforcement of our laws, to cast their ballots in support of James Judge,” said the letter sent by the Florida PBA.
The endorsement is another in a string of endorsements by law enforcement officials and organizations, which include the Tampa Police Benevolent Association, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, and retired Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats.
It also comes just days after Judge was participating in another ride-along with Tampa Police Department officers. Halfway through the patrol, a 20-year-old man was tragically shot and killed just one block away from Judge and Tampa Police Officers in Ybor City on Sunday morning.
“The violent crime rate, which has skyrocketed over the past few years, is a direct reflection of the weak-on-crime policies of the Castor Regime, both Kathy and Jane Castor, and showcases a failure of their leadership as our community grows less safe. It’s no surprise that Castor has not received a single endorsement from law enforcement officials,” Judge said. “I am honored to receive statewide support from law enforcement officers, and when I am elected to Congress, I will do everything in my power to make sure our men and women in law enforcement have the tools and support they need to make our communities safe again.”
The Florida Police Benevolent Association is one of the largest organizations to represent Florida law enforcement officers with more than 26,000 members, and is open to all certified law enforcement and corrections officers in the state.
On Aug. 23, Judge won his primary election by 24 points, despite being outspent 10-to-one by his closest competitor.
In addition to the endorsement by the Florida PBA, Judge has earned the endorsement of several prominent figures and organizations.
They include:
- Congressman Brian Mast (R-FL)
- Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ)
- Congressman Ted Yoho (R-FL) retired
- Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard
- Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri
- The Tampa Police Benevolent Association
- Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats (retired)
- Associated Builders and Contractors Florida Gulf Coast
- The Community Patriots Tampa
- Republican strategist Roger Stone
- Chris Chambers, former Congressional candidate and community leader
- Matt Becker, small business owner, former SBA White House Deputy Chief, and former Congressional Candidate
About James Judge:
Judge, a Tampa Bay area native, is the Republican nominee for Florida’s 14th Congressional District. Judge graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg and was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. Additionally, he served in Kabul, Afghanistan as a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense from 2010 until 2011 under General David Petraeus. He now owns Judge Public Relations, a Tampa-based PR firm and marketing agency with clients worldwide.
Judge is married to his wife Danielle, who is also a small business owner in Hillsborough County. The Judges are avid animal lovers and together, they have four dogs, three cats, two horses and 10 chickens. Judge is a proud member of the National Rifle Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Tampa Propeller Club and the Coastal Conservation Association. The Judges are also long-time, active members of Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa.
For media-related inquiries, please contact the campaign’s PR firm at 813.279.8335 or by emailing vote@judgeforcongress.com.
