Last night at a candidates' forum of the Pine Island Ridge Democratic Club in Davie, Broward County Circuit Judge John "Jay" Hurley claimed to have received the endorsements of the county's public defender and the chairman of the county's Democratic Party, according to a reliable source.
A person who attended the meeting had already told Broward Public Defender Howard Finkelstein of Hurley's endorsement claim when I reached Finkelstein this afternoon. "Absolutely not," he said to the question whether he'd given an endorsement to Hurley.
"I like Jay," said Finkelstein. "He's a nice guy who's doing a good job, as best I can tell. But no, I didn't endorse him. I don't endorse any judges -- not even the candidates who work in my office."
Hurley also is alleged to have claimed the endorsement of Broward
Democratic Chairman Mitch Ceasar, which would be strange considering
Hurley was appointed to the bench by Republican Charlie Crist. Ceasar did not
immediately return a call seeking comment.
I also left a message with Hurley's judicial office. Hurley's treasurer, Ed McGee, was not in the office when I called a few minutes ago.
Hurley is being challenged by Fort Lauderdale attorney Melissa Minsk Donoho.
