The Tampa Bay area’s flagship newspaper made the changes after Judge questioned its integrity during a Tuesday news conference.
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Times has updated its description of James Judge, the Republican Nominee for U.S. Congress in Florida’s 14th Congressional District, after Judge issued a stark rebuke of local news media coverage during a Tuesday press conference.
“I have to give credit where credit is due, and I am glad to see that the Tampa Bay Times has updated its voter guide with a biography of me, instead of listing only two things that happened on the campaign trail,” said Judge. “The local media’s role in keeping the public properly informed is absolutely critical, especially when it comes to something as serious as American elections.”
Previously, the voter guide described a gun giveaway that was part of Judge’s fundraising campaign, and that he was disqualified from the ballot during the primary election. Now, it lists some of Judge’s background and professional qualifications.
“James Judge, 38, is making his first run for public office,” the new bio says. “He is a Coast Guard veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He owns a public relations firm in Tampa and was one of the original organizers of the Skyway 10k.”
Despite this week’s rift with the press, Judge says he is happy to work with any media outlets, and that he wants the news media to succeed.
“The news media plays a crucial role in the spread of information. That’s why I want them to succeed, and we should all want them to succeed,” said Judge. “When the media is objective, trusted and respected, we have a better-informed populace, which can make decisions that are grounded in truth and reality. I work with the media in public relations every day. I know how important it is for Americans to have reliable sources of information.”
Judge squares off with Kathy Castor in the Nov. 8 general election.
He recently won a straw poll conducted by the Riverview Chamber of Commerce by a margin of four points over his incumbent Democrat opponent Kathy Castor.
Additionally, 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, who publicly announced his run for Congress earlier this year, is the only Tampa Bay area native running in the race, having been born in Clearwater, Florida. Judge graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg and served in the U.S. Coast Guard in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additionally, he served in Kabul, Afghanistan as a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense from 2010 until 2011. 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 NRA, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Coastal Conservation Association. The Judges are also longtime, active members at 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
