Incumbent Putnam County Judge Anne Marie Gennusa is seeking re-election, and will face Alex Sharp in the general election. They were the top two finishers in a three-way primary in August, where no candidate got more than 50% of the vote. This is a non-partisan race, and will be on the ballot for all Putnam County voters.
News4Jax sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.
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Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4Jax staff.
| CANDIDATES |
Anne Marie Gennusa
Occupation: Currently a County Judge-Putnam County, Florida
Age: 57
Family: I am married to Bob, a retired Sargeant with SJSO, mother/bonus mom to 5, grandmother to 3 cuties with a 4th on the way.
Education: J.D 1994- Temple University School of Law
Master Level Certificates- Villanova University-Government Contracting & Human Resource Mgt.
B.S, Paralegal Studies, Mercy College 1990
Political experience: I was appointed to the Putnam County bench in 2023. Currently I preside over criminal misdemeanor cases in county court and as an Acting Circuit Judge presiding over Juvenile Delinquency and Truancy cases.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
1. Increasing dockets due to population growth- I want to implement other court times, including a lunch court to be able to adapt to the population growth.
2. Compliance with sentencing-I have initiated longer time periods for defendants to pay their court costs and fines that they were sentenced to.
3. Keeping experience on the bench-As I am the only candidate with judicial experience, I would like to retain my seat and continue serving the people of Putnam county.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
Since I am the current/incumbent judge, by allowing me to stay on the bench and keep my position will result in savings to the voters in my community. I have already received extensive education and training for my position and can continue to serve without a break in service.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
I hope I am remembered for making a difference in the lives of those individuals that came before me and that I followed the law, not created it and upholding the constitution.
Campaign website: Www.keepjudgegennusa.com
Campaign social media: Facebook
Alex Sharp
Occupation: I am currently the General Counsel for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and a sworn deputy. Before that, I served as a felony prosecutor, a small business owner, and a police officer for the City of Palatka. I additionally served in the Army Reserves and received an honorable discharge for my service.
Age: 57
Family: I have been married to my beautiful wife for 22 years; we have four sons, three of whom are now adults, and the newest one just turned one year old on August 4th. ( we adopted him as a newborn last year)
Education: I have an LL.M. (Masters of Laws) from the University of Miami Law School and my Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville.
Political experience: I have never served in any elected capacity
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
My primary and first role as a judge is to apply the law correctly. However, I also understand the need to inform the people who appear before me about the process. The second is communication, which is critical to me. My life and work experiences will allow me to communicate effectively while still effectively performing my judicial duties. Last, I will never let my emotions influence or dictate my conduct in court.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
Growing up in Putnam, working and living here gives me a unique local experience of our community. Additionally, serving honorably in the military and later as a police officer gave me leadership skills, a strong work ethic, and a desire to help others. Later, I started and ran several successful small businesses, including a family-friendly restaurant. Finally, my legal experience as a former prosecutor and General Counsel with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has allowed me to work closely with victims of crime, handle various legal issues, and understand a judge’s role must always be fair and impartial.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
Putnam County has been my family’s home for approximately 50 years. I have always strived to make our community a better place to raise children, start a business, or live. I hope people will remember me as a fair, unbiased, and effective judge who served his community well.
Campaign website: www.sharpforjudge.com
Campaign social media: Facebook