Name:  John W. Tanner

Age:  69

Contact address:  P. O. Box 1628, Flagler Beach, Fla.  32136

Contact phone number:  386  338-4284

Contact e-mail:  bullelkt@aol.com

Web site:  www.TannerForJustice.com

Office sought:  Re-election as State Attorney, 7th Judicial Circuit

Biographical Data: 

      Educational background:  University of Florida --undergraduate degree

                                            University of Florida College of Law (1967)

Occupation, training, experience:

     I am a trained leader.  I served as an Airborne Infantry Special Forces officer after graduating from O.C.S.  I have more than 20 years experience as a prosecutor, and am serving my 16th year as the elected State Attorney.  I also have 20 years experience as a criminal defense and civil law attorney.  I have personally tried approximately 15 capital murder cases.  I am a trial lawyer who has been successfully leading, guiding and instructing 80+ prosecutors, 20 investigators, 13 victim advocates and more than 100 support staff for 16 years.

Question 10 a:

     My greatest challenge is to continue to keep our communities safe, by removing the most dangerous criminals from our society--and dealing with non-dangerous persons who are arrested, in such a way that leads to rehabilitation, and restores them as productive members of our communities.

     Addressing the problems:

     This State Attorney's office insures swift and sure justice by convicting violent offenders and removing them from the community through long terms of imprisonment. Our Homicide Unit has a 100% conviction rate. Our circuit-wide Anti-Drug Initiative for first-time drug offenders has diverted more than 7,000 first-time non-violent drug users from the criminal justice system to treatment.  

     Another challenging issue regarding my office is the growing number of juvenile offenders.  Once again, through our Anti-Drug Initiative program, we are able to divert those who qualify to treatment--before they commit serious felonies and embark on a course of criminal conduct that will result in their imprisonment in the adult system. 

Question 10 b:

     The state Legislature should have over-site responsibility to protect citizens from excessive local taxation and insure sufficient funding for state needs; however, local and county governments should have reasonable autonomy with regard to taxation based upon citizen input and approval.

Question 11:

     The most serious offenses (murder, rape, child molestation, robbery and home invasion) should in most cases be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.  Non-violent and victimless crimes which do not usually result in incarceration are best handled through plea bargaining, probation and diversion.

Question 12:

     Chronic offenders, career criminals and even first-time violent/dangerous offenders should be sentenced to lengthy prison terms and removed from society for substantial periods of time.

Question 13:

     This office offers a Worthless Check prosecution/diversion program through which we recover millions of dollars for local businesses and merchants at no cost to them.  The offenders pay restitution to the merchants, and a  service charge to my office which pays for the program.  We also obtain court ordered costs of prosecution from the defendants that provide funds for extraordinary costs and equipment not covered by general revenue.  Through these two programs we are able to supplement our general revenue funds and fulfill our responsibilities, in spite of reduced state funding..