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GOP, police support help Corey win state attorney race
By Paul Pinkham, The Times-Union
Aug 27, 2008
» VIDEO: Plotkin thanks his team
Angela Corey, the hard-nosed Jacksonville prosecutor fired two years ago, rode her strong police and Republican Party support to win the 4th Circuit state attorney's race Tuesday night.
Corey easily out-polled her Republican primary opponent and former boss, Chief Assistant State Attorney Jay Plotkin.
"It will be a new and glorious day in the State Attorney's Office," Corey said during a victory party at Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police headquarters. Attendees included Mayor John Peyton, Sheriff John Rutherford and union President Nelson Cuba.
Because there are no Democratic or independent candidates, Corey will replace State Attorney Harry Shorstein in January as the top state prosecutor for Duval, Clay and Nassau counties. Shorstein, a Democrat, is retiring after 17 years in office.
About 10 p.m., Shorstein, who backed Plotkin and filmed a TV ad to explain why he fired Corey, strode through the union hall looking for her. He said he was there to congratulate her and offer his assistance for the transition. But as her supporters yelled at him to stop, Cuba blocked his way and ordered him to leave the building.
"She doesn't want to talk to you," Cuba said. As Shorstein turned to leave, people cheered.
Shorstein said he was "stunned" by the reception, which he said was merely an attempt at being cordial. Corey said Tuesday wasn't the time.
"The people that came tonight were here to celebrate, and a number of us were puzzled about why Mr. Shorstein chose to show up," she said.
At the downtown Hyatt, Plotkin thanked about 250 supporters and paid special tribute to Shorstein as a public servant and mentor.
Plotkin said he was very disappointed in the result, but he congratulated Corey and said he had no regrets.
"If you want something, you work hard for it and you live with the outcome no matter what," he said. "This is about making this a better, safer community. I have full confidence Ms. Corey cares about the people of this community and will do the right thing."
Corey and Plotkin approached the race with all the fervor of a murder trial. The campaign quickly turned negative, with accusations of records violations, insubordination, disloyalty and political payback bandied about almost from the start.
Corey worked in the State Attorney's Office for 25 years before she was fired in 2006. She called the firing political; Shorstein said it was for insubordination.
She was one of the office's most experienced and recognizable homicide prosecutors. Since her termination, she has been prosecuting in St. Johns and Putnam counties.
Corey had the endorsement of all three sheriffs in the circuit and the Duval County Republican Party. She criticized Shorstein's public disagreements with Rutherford and generally linked Plotkin to Shorstein when talking about Jacksonville's crime rate and her desire to change the culture and administration of the State Attorney's Office.
Plotkin, who switched parties this election, repeatedly criticized Corey's political relationship with police. But she insisted it would not affect her response to police misconduct or corruption.
Times-Union writer Jim Schoettler contributed to this report.
paul.pinkham@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4107
Copyright 2008
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