Who do you plan to vote for in the race for St. Lucie County Judge, Group 2?

Option image
Option image
14 Comments

  • tata - 10 years ago

    Incase you all have not heard. You precious Judge Yacucci physically assaulted his opponent today. He is a violent, disgraceful, sorry excuse for a judge and human being. Tc palm you shouldashamed to support such person for a position of aauthority. He is a person out of control. Just the other day at the community center he used his vehicle to try to intimidate on of his opponent's supporters. That sounds like man running scared.

  • David - 10 years ago

    When you make $140,000 a year as a public servant and don't make mortgage payments on your house for over 2 years, that shows a lack of character. Judge Yacucci has been living free of charge while he uses the court system to his advantage to remain in his house. Regular citizens of st. lucie county would not get this opportunity. If Judge Yacucci can't even make responsible decisions in his personal life, how can we expect him to make good decisions on the bench. Judge Yacucci should be ashamed that he is not paying his debts when he makes such a large salary and has a position of authority.

    The prior allegations from his past show a pattern of poor decision making which demonstrates that he is not the person he claims to be currently. Judge Yacucci was accused of domestic violence and now he trumpets that he runs the domestic violence program...scary!! As others have said on here, Judge Yacucci has not denied the truth of these allegations. In fact, he admits they are true by acknowledging them and simply stating that they were from his past and are of a private nature. Judge Yacucci may have been on the bench for the past 12 years, but that was clearly because st. lucie county was unaware of his character issues. In this upcoming election, I will certainly not cast my vote for Judge Yacucci.

  • Laurie - 10 years ago

    Skeeter - EVERYONE has skeletons in their closet. That is not the issue. It is a matter of ethics and personal integrity. Any person who is in a position to represent the people and the community needs to be of upstanding character, starting with his personal life and ending with how he conducts himself professionally. It is our responsibility to seek and speak the truth, and expose duplicity when we see it.

    If he has any evidence to refute the alleged 'defamation' why hasn't he made it public? That is a question that should be asked by everyone along with the question of why he attempts to divert the attention from the facts with ad hominem attacks on his opponent. As a voter, I would not be interested in your 'opinion' of Mr Yaccuci, nor your 'insider's' knowledge, unless you can back it up with evidence.

    Mr Yaccuci has a responsibility to address these personal facts that are being brought to light. Actually, he has a responsibility to have disclosed this information long ago.

  • Kathy - 10 years ago

    Tom perhaps you are misinformed. Mr. Smith did not create a website to, as you put it, destroy anyone. Yacucci made his choices and has to live with the consequences. Although, Skeeter seems to think the lack of Yacucci paying his mortgage is the banks fault. A lot of people are living in homes that have lost significant value. I make far less than he does and still paid my mortgage.

  • tom - 10 years ago

    Starting a website to destroy and individual in a local election for an incumbent show how low the judicial branch has become. Mr Smith you should be ashamed of yourself. You truly look like and ambulance chaser to me

  • Skeeter~ - 10 years ago

    Ladies,Ladies,Ladies! Every person in every form of politics or elected office has skeletons of some sort in their closet, ALL OF THEM! Judge Yacucci hasn't publicly responded to the "Allegations" because he doesn't need to. The only thing that should be relevant in this election is his record on the bench, not whether he pays his mortgage or not. Maybe he got screwed over by his mortgage company, as did many people, and he is taking a stand! Who knows and who cares? I have worked in the courtroom with almost every judge in SLC over the last 10 years and let me tell you, Judge Yacucci is fair and firm on that bench. He holds people legally accountable for their actions, which is what a judge is supposed to do. There are many judges who do not deserve to be up there in that position, but Judge Yacucci is not one of them. Given my "Insider's" knowledge of every judge in SLC, I am voting for Judge Yacucci, again. You might have to appear in front of him one day and when he does right by you, then you will be glad that he is on the bench, whether he pays his mortgage or not. Wake up and smell what you are shoveling, Ladies~

  • Skeeter~ - 10 years ago

    Ladies,Ladies,Ladies! Every person in every form of politics or elected office has skeletons of some sort in their closet, ALL OF THEM! Judge Yacucci hasn't publicly responded to the "Allegations" because he doesn't need to. The only thing that should be relevant in this election is his record on the bench, not whether he pays his mortgage or not. Maybe he got screwed over by his mortgage company, as did many people, and he is taking a stand! Who knows and who cares? I have worked in the courtroom with almost every judge in SLC over the last 10 years and let me tell you, Judge Yacucci is fair and firm on that bench. He holds people legally accountable for their actions, which is what a judge is supposed to do. There are many judges who do not deserve to be up there in that position, but Judge Yacucci is not one of them. Given my "Insider's" knowledge of every judge in SLC, I am voting for Judge Yacucci, again. You might have to appear in front of him one day and when he does right by you, then you will be glad that he is on the bench, whether he pats his mortgage or not. Wake up and smell what you are shoveling, Ladies~

  • Laurie - 10 years ago

    Exactly Rebecca, Facts are Facts. I will point out again... If he has any Evidence to refute the Alleged 'defamation', Why hasn't he made it public?. Instead he counters with ad hominem attacks and a frivolous law suit.

    John, can you provide any facts, links to facts, anything other than a quote from a blogger (which provides No factual evidence to back up his claims and is 'argumentum ad hominem' directed at Mr. Smith as well)?

    As has been pointed out, Mr. Smith if elected, would not be allowed legally to preside over cases associated with The Ticket Clinic due to conflict of Interest. So your source's argument is essentially a non sequitur.

    Yacucci has been Judge for twelve years by default. He has not 'earned' a seat in our judicial system. A seat that requires honesty, sincerity and integrity.

  • Janet - 10 years ago

    Only "smear" about yacucci has been factual information regarding him. has nothing to hide. Stephen wants to help the residence of st lucie county as oppose to abuse power.

  • Shantè - 10 years ago

    If I made 143,000 a year and decided not to pay my mortgage in three years id be out on the street!? Why does he get any special privileges cause he's a judge !????

  • Rebecca - 10 years ago

    Yacucci hasn't had any competition and now that he does, he is frantic. Just because he has been a judge for 12 years, doesn't mean he has integrity or the other standard qualities that a judge should be held to. PAC's have been pulling skeletons out of closets for years. If Mr. Smith is elected, he would not be allowed legally to preside over cases associated with The Ticket Clinic, so who cares who is in charge of the PAC. Facts are facts.

  • John - 10 years ago

    Ladies, you can smear all you want as that is a clear indication that Mr. Smith has nothing of substance to run his campaign on. There is a reason Judge Yacucci has been a judge in this county for 12 years and there is a reason this editorial board has officially endorsed him.
    http://www.tcpalm.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-endorsement-st-lucie-county-judge-group-2_71796826

    You might want to question your own integrity and re-examine want real causes and support you wish to be involved in, as there is a criminal investigation underway from the state.

    Read this comment posted from another blogger on this site: Very interesting stuff.

    "Mr. Smith is actually just a pawn to a larger scheme to put pro ticket clinic judges in place to rule favorably therefore generating millions of dollars in revenue for the firm, which has offices that serve every county and every city in Florida. What a coincidence that the PAC, Citizens for Judicial Fairness, Inc. out of Miami is the home office of The Ticket Clinic. Candidate Steven Smith works for the Ticket Clinic. The listed officer for the PAC is a Caroline Zelman Gold, wife of Mark Gold, founder of The Ticket Clinic.

    One must ask, why would a PAC out of Miami have interest in St Lucie County? Turns out, they have been systematically targeting County Judge seats throughout Florida who do not rule in their favor. They ran the very same scheme, using over $100,000 in soft money against a Judge in Collier County and still lost. They are in cahoots with Mark Herron, a prominent Tallahassee political ethics attorney, who has over 100 PAC's in his name, some of which fund the targeting of county Judge races. The same thing occurred in Hillsborough County where one of Mr. Herron's PAC's was involved. Before excepting the invitation to work for the democratic party in Tallahassee, Mr. Herron worked for the Law firm Akerman, Sentefett and Eidson in Miami where he met his friend Mark S. Gold. Mr. Herron is the registered agent for the aforementioned PAC.

    These guys are not too smart as their Miami mentality keeps them from recognizing that this county does respond well to smear campaigns of this extreme. We are actually appalled at the vileness of what is coming out of the Smith camp. This is a close nit community that will vote on integrity and a proven past of experience. Judge Phil Yacucci, his children, and his family have been the target of this Miami PAC.

    The voters, the legal community, and law enforcement stand firmly behind Judge Phil Yacucci."

  • Rebecca - 10 years ago

    Perfectly put Laurie! Anyone who doesn't believe Yacucci lacks personal integrity should go look on the Clerk of Court website for proof. I did. I can't believe that person, not man, sits behind the bench and judges those brought before him, when he himself should look in the mirror.

  • Laurie - 10 years ago

    Polls are interesting, although not truly accurate of public opinion. I am amazed to see any interest in Yacucci after learning of truths regarding his personal integrity. And to then read that he has sued claiming 'invasion of privacy' and 'emotional distress'. Seriously? If he has any evidence to refute the alleged 'defamation' why hasn't he made it public? Instead he resorts to what is, in essence, an underhanded form of character assassination. Behavior not at all becoming of a Judge. But when a person is not in control of their emotions they do act out in childish and immature ways.

Leave a Comment

0/4000 chars


Submit Comment