Voting sign. Photo by Sean Kinane/WMNF (2024).

As Hillsborough County’s court system faces major change, one judicial candidate says experience across multiple areas of law matters more than ever.

With Florida’s primary election set for August 18, Nina McGucken Alvarez, a longtime Tampa attorney, is stepping forward to serve Hillsborough County’s court system. She says her decision comes at a critical moment, as the local judiciary faces a significant transition. She is running for Circuit Court Judge in Hillsborough County’s 13th Judicial Circuit, Group 13. With five judges set to retire at the end of this election cycle, McGucken Alvarez says the court system is approaching a major transition – one she believes requires experienced leadership.

“I felt like now I was really called to do it,” McGucken Alvarez said. “It’s a way for me to give back to the city and county that I love so much.”

Legal background

McGucken Alvarez was born and raised in Tampa. She brings 17 years of legal experience. Moreover, she also works part-time for the State of Florida, representing indigent children with alleged developmental disabilities. She points out that the depth of her experience distinguishes her candidacy.

“Circuit court judges can be placed in any one of five divisions, and you don’t actually know where you’ll end up,” she explained. “My experience in different areas of the law and with different types of people prepares me for that.”

On any given day, McGucken Alvarez says her work can shift dramatically – from family court cases involving divorce in the morning, to probate matters involving incapacitated individuals, followed by criminal court proceedings later in the day.

Managing pressure on and off the job

Beyond her legal work, McGucken Alvarez is also a business owner and mother. Those responsibilities have strengthened her ability to manage pressure in high-stakes environments.

“I do a lot of things,” she said. “Managing stress is just one of those things.”

When asked how she handles the demands of balancing multiple roles, she points to simple routines: reading, spending time outdoors, and being with her children.

“They help me realize everything will be okay in the end,” she said.

Still, she acknowledges that becoming a judge would require a major professional adjustment.

“For 17 years I’ve had clients,” McGucken Alvarez said. “Making that switch to not having clients, I think, is going to be hard.”

The race ahead

Judicial races often receive less public attention than higher-profile contests. So, community forums are among the few opportunities for voters to hear directly from candidates about their qualifications and priorities. Nina McGucken Alvarez recently attended a candidate meet-and-greet event in Brandon to inform residents about how her experience will help her give back to the community.

“This is home,” she said. “And I think now is the right time to serve.”

Her opponent in the Group 13 race is attorney Jim Wimsatt, who has practiced law for 22 years. Wimsatt didn’t attend the candidate forum Nina McGucken Alvarez participated in.

 

WMNF will continue election coverage with more candidate interviews in the weeks ahead.