![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flsentinel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Warren-LOPEZ-DEBATE-640x480.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Candidates for Hillsborough State Attorney, Suzy Lopez, Elizabeth Martinez Strauss and Andrew Warren. Public Defender candidates, <\/strong>Lisa McLean and Rocky Brancato<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The three candidates for the Hillsborough County state attorney position along with the two candidates running for Hillsborough Public Defender met for a debate recently during the Tampa Tiger Bay Club political forum in Ybor City.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Suspended Hillsborough County state attorney, Democrat Andrew Warren,<\/strong> current appointed state attorney, Republican Suzy Lopez,<\/strong> and Democrat Elizabeth Martinez Strauss<\/strong>\u00a0faced off\u00a0with a large crowd on hand.<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Candidates Warren<\/strong> and the governor’s appointee to the job, Suzy Lopez<\/strong> took the gloves off during the debate. It didn’t take long for\u00a0Lopez<\/a><\/strong> to throw the first punch.<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Just a few minutes into the Tampa Tiger Bay Club debate in Ybor City, she said\u00a0she took an oath to defend the Constitution and alleged that the State Attorney\u2019s office was dysfunctional prior to her taking over.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gov. Ron DeSantis<\/strong> suspended Warren<\/strong> in 2022 after he pledged not to prosecute new state laws on abortion and transgender health care. Federal courts have since found that DeSantis<\/strong> violated the constitution by removing Warren<\/strong> from office.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Warren,<\/strong> early on said he would not run again for the office; however, said he changed his mind after a federal appeals court ruled that a federal judge could reinstate him to office. A decision from that judge has not yet been issued.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Warren<\/strong>\u00a0introduced himself to cheers from the audience at the Hotel Haya as “still the duly-elected state attorney.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0“I wasn’t illegally appointed because of my politics and I was reelected with support from Democrats, Independents and Republicans because we had tremendous success,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe’ve had tremendous success working with law enforcement and no controversy until the governor’s political stunt threw out your votes, broke the law and jeopardized our democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n