Vote Steve Kerestes for Circuit Judge!
Who is Steve Kerestes?
First, "what's in a name?" Steve is named after his father and his grandfather. His full name is George Stephen Kerestes Jr. His parents called him Steve, as did all his family and friends. He has been known as Steve by all who know him.
The name Kerestes is Hungarian. When his great grandfather immigrated to the United States, the name was spelled Keresztes. When Steve's grandfather (George Kerestes) was in school, a teacher removed the z and it has been that way ever since. Grandpa George was simply George as he didn't have a middle name. Fun fact, George Kerestes was an amateur boxer and even has his boxing stats online.
Steve's great grandparents both came from Hungary about 100 years ago, but they didn't travel across the Atlantic together. The would-be great grandparents met soon after they both arrived in Pittsburgh, PA. They married, purchased what land they could, with money they saved working in a factory in Pittsburgh and spent the rest of their lives on that same land farming. They raised seven children on that farm.
Now travel through time from the beginning of the 20th century to the end of it, and Steve is graduating from Titusville High School; Go Terriers! Roughly a month after graduation, Steve was at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island in Beaufort, South Carolina. Steve earned the title of United State Marine at Parris Island in the summer of 1995. While enlisted in the Marine Corps, Steve served at Camp Lejeune, onboard multiple naval ships and in Okinawa, Japan. The Marines took Steve to 11 countries during his 4 year enlistment.
After his enlistment in the Marine Corps was complete and Steve was honorably discharged, he went home and started his college career using the GI Bill. Steve met some other Marines (Pat and Mark, they got out about a year before) in his first semester of college and those two encouraged Steve to join their Guard Unit. So during his first semester of college, Steve joined the Florida Army National Guard and served 3 years in a reserve capacity. He was briefly activated after 9/11. Steve graduated from the University of Florida with a business degree and a minor in classical studies.
From undergraduate school, Steve went directly to law school earning a scholarship to Barry's School of Law in Orlando, Florida. Steve earned his doctorate degree over the following 3 years and graduated in the top third of his class. Steve enjoyed the rigor that it took to earn a doctorate degree.
While earning his law degree, Steve interned at the City Attorney's Office serving the people of Orlando. After law school, Steve's first job as an attorney was serving the people of Orange and Osceola Counties at the State Attorney's Office. Steve served in this role for 10 years, first under Lawson Lamar and then Jeff Ashton. After those 10 years of public service, Steve went to work in the private sector. First, at a large civil defense firm, next, at a small local law firm representing clients in a diverse range of matters and Steve also worked at a small civil firm handling first party property claims on behalf of small businesses and home owners. With 17 years of legal experience, Steve decided to return to the public sector where he could serve the people of Orange and Osceola Counties at the State Attorney's Office once again. Steve continues to serve in that capacity serving the community with nearly 20 years of experience. To summarize Steve will have 20 years of experience as an attorney this coming September, 7 years of experience in the private sector handling both civil and criminal matters and 13 years of experience as an attorney in the public sector.
Steve is a family man. He has been married to his fabulous wife, Alison, for 18 years this August. Steve and Alison met as new attorneys at the State Attorney's Office. They both started at the same time back in 2006. They started dating when they were assigned to the same courtroom and within a year of that first date, they were married. Steve and Alison would work together at the State Attorney's Office until Alison went into private practice in 2014, they had been married for 6 years at that time. Later, they would work together again at the Kerestes Law Firm. Steve and his wife, Alison, can often be seen walking around town together. Steve and Alison's son, George, was born in 2012, they both still worked at the State Attorney's Office. George's first trip to the State Attorney's Office was when he was 3 months old. Folks in the office love to see new family members. Being a dad brought a joy into Steve's life he never expected. Steve has done many things most would consider pretty adventurous, too many to mention here, but the one thing that has brought the most joy and happiness to his life is being a dad. It is nice to do fun things, but they don't last. Steve has loved having the opportunity to see his son grow. Family is amazing.
What's Steve like to do in his free time? Spending time with family is always a priority. Steve's son is required to commit to community service and the family likes to do that together. Gardening is something Steve has recently learned to enjoy. The freezes are not fun when you get into gardening though. Books, Steve loves books. He has enjoyed reading from a young age. The love of books and reading continues even when he is running for election. Reading can be a window into other places, other cultures and so much more. Steve also loves to be on the water. The family has a canoe they like to take on the Wekiva River. When they are able to find the time, they also like to go out on the intercostal waters in Brevard County with other family and friends. The family is catholic and they attend mass (church services) regularly. The Church is an important part of Steve's life.
Stay tuned, more to come.
More about the candidate.
That picture above of the young man in uniform is Steve at 20 years of age on leave before traveling to his next duty station. His next duty station? Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan. Steve was stationed in Okinawa for nearly a year before finishing his 4 year enlistment in the United States Marine Corps. After returning stateside, Steve began his college career. Shortly after starting his first semester of college, Steve joined the Florida Army National Guard. Steve served in the Guard for 3 years. The time in the Guard was reserve duty as compared to active duty. Steve was on active duty while serving his 4 years as a Marine. Disclaimer, likely not needed, but for the lawyers; Steve would like you to know that no branch of the U.S. Military has endorsed him or anyone else in this or in any election. The U.S. Military does not endorse candidates running for election. Also, insignias or logos on clothing or in any way seen on a photograph does not equate to endorsement of candidate.
Judicial elections are non-partisan.
While we are aware that voters desire to know the political party any judicial candidate may or may not be registered or otherwise affiliated with, it is against the rules for any candidate running for judicial office to comment on this. No judicial candidate has the right to violate this rule. If a judicial candidate were to break this rule, what kind of judge might that candidate be if elected? Please don't ask, but if you insist on asking, the answer will always be - it is against the rules for any judicial candidate to say.
All parties coming before a judge in any kind of preceding should believe the judge will rule based on the law and the facts presented and not based on any political feelings, bias or similar motivations.