13 years after losing contentious race, Declan Mansfield appointed to the bench

More than a decade after losing a judicial campaign to an opponent who would later be removed from office, Declan Mansfield has been appointed to the 6th Judicial Circuit Court bench. Gov. Rick Scott announced the appointment Friday afternoon. In 2003, Mansfield lost a contentious race to John Renke III, the politically connected son of a former state House member who spent nearly $100,000 on his campaign. Based on career experience and qualifications, Mansfield was the superior candidate (I offer that analysis…