The office of State Attorney for the 8th Judicial Circuit, covering Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties will be on the ballot this November.
Voters will choose between incumbent Brian Kramer, who has held the position for four years, and attorney Yvens Pierre-Antoine, who is a former public defender.
The State Attorney is the circuit’s chief prosecutor and represents the state of Florida in his judicial circuit, prosecuting or defending on the state’s behalf in suits, applications or motions, both civil and criminal, in which the state is a party.
Mainstreet is publishing candidate questionnaire answers as received, with only edits for clarity and length.
Brian Kramer
Age: 55
Occupation: State Attorney, 8th Judicial Circuit
Website: www.keepkramer.com/
Previous experience in elected office:
Elected State Attorney in 2020. No other elected offices.
Public service other than elected office:
Judicial Nominating Commission; Executive Committee to the Criminal Section of the Florida Bar; The Florida Bar 8th Circuit Grievance Committee; The Practicing with Professionalism Panel; Adjunct Professor of Trial Practice, University of Florida Levin College of Law; Instructor Prosecutor / Public Defender Clinic; Instructor Complex Trial Preparation for the Florida Prosecuting Attorney’s Association; The Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association; Rotary International.
What prompted you to run for re-election?
Since 1993, my career has been in public service. I am proud to have served this office and this community since 1999 as a prosecutor. During this term, this office has been very successful and made significant improvements to the services that we provide to the community. There is more work to be done. I have been a prosecutor serving this community for over 20 years, I hope to be able to continue to do so by continuing to serve as your State Attorney.
What have been your top two priorities as state attorney?
My top two priorities have been aligning the seriousness of the crimes that we deal with to the limited resources available for prosecution, and increasing awareness, investigation, and prosecution of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of our elderly citizens.
What would you do differently than your opponent?
My opponent has no experience whatsoever as a prosecutor, and therefore no track record. His stated positions, to the extent that I am aware of them, are nebulous, vague, and not based in the reality of the criminal justice system or running an office with 40 plus lawyers, 80 plus support staff, and a $12,000,000 budget. I will continue the strong, ethical, and fair prosecution that this office is known for, and I will continue to improve the services and the efficiency of this office.
Yvens Pierre-Antoine
Age: 51
Occupation: Attorney
Website: yvensforflorida.com/
Previous experience in elected office: None
Public service other than elected office:
I have worked at the State Attorney’s Office, as an Assistant Public Defender in the 5th Judicial Circuit, Board of Directors for Three Rivers Legal Aid, as well as a speaker to Mirror Image Leadership Academy, and the Made For More organization.
What prompted you to run for election?
I decided to run for State Attorney because of my work with our kids: right now, our youth face an unprecedented crisis of gun violence. The State Attorney’s office must go beyond prosecution; it needs to actively engage in outreach within vulnerable communities where easy access to guns has become the tragic norm. We require a State Attorney who prioritizes the safety and well-being of our young people. Many counties lack essential mental health and drug courts, and I will work tirelessly to establish these programs. I am running because I see critical needs that are not being met.
What two things would you prioritize as state attorney?
I would prioritize outreach to curtail gun violence because we need to develop strong relationships with those working with young children in vulnerable communities. I have witnessed the vital work being done for our youth, yet our State Attorney’s office remains absent when it should be a central figure. By engaging schools and local leaders, we can work together to create safer environments for our children. Additionally we need to do more to protect our family. For example, On September 17th, Christopher Chell -the former P.E. teacher at my son’s school – was sentenced on two charges after soliciting a relationship with a middle school child. Despite his sentencing and time served, he does not have to register as a sex offender and is free to teach again. This outcome is unacceptable and reflects a failure in our justice system, as evidenced by similar cases in the 8th Judicial Circuit.
What would you do differently than your opponent?
First and foremost, we must work harder to prosecute criminals within the 8th Judicial Circuit and ensure that justice is served—this is the primary function of the State Attorney’s office. Too many criminals are slipping through the cracks of procedure, resulting in an unacceptably low conviction rate, especially concerning child sex crimes. We can build a more effective approach that not only holds offenders accountable but also promotes healing and safety for our children and families. I would advocate for additional resources for drug courts and mental health courts, recognizing the essential need for rehabilitation over punishment. Unlike my opponent, who may overlook the vital connection between community engagement and crime prevention, I would work tirelessly to foster collaboration among schools, local organizations, and law enforcement. By strengthening these partnerships, we can create comprehensive strategies to address crime and support our community.