As part of our commitment to providing you with what you need to make an informed decision in the 2026 elections, News 6 joined with the News Collaborative of Central Florida to present the Voting Central Florida 2026 Voter’s Guide.
Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.
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[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]
Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.
However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.
Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.
18th Circuit Judge – Group 13 candidates
The 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida handles state civil and criminal cases for Brevard and Seminole counties. These are nonpartisan races, open to all voters.
Of the 11 groups up for election this year, Group 4 and Group 13 drew more than one candidate. You can read about the Group 4 race HERE.
The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.
Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.
Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for the 18th Circuit Court race. Below is an excerpt of each candidate’s profile.
You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.
Andrea Fant
WEBSITE: fantforjudge.com/
What is your education?
I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida State University and a Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University, College of Law.
What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making?
Judges must make decisions based on the law and without regard to personal values.
What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench?
With over sixteen years of experience as an attorney, I believe all of my professional experiences have prepared me for the bench. In the area of Family Law, I have handled matters involving divorces, child custody disputes, and child support obligations. Additionally, I was an attorney for the Department of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement division, where I advocated on behalf of the State of Florida during hearings to establish paternity and initiate, enforce, and modify child support obligations. For Civil Law, I have handled cases including landlord-tenant matters, petitions to seek injunctive relief, and contract disputes. Currently, as an Assistant Public Defender, I am assigned to a Circuit Criminal division. I manage a high-volume caseload involving individuals with criminal charges ranging from misdemeanors to first-degree felonies that are punishable by life in prison. My clientele also includes persons with mental health illnesses, autism and intellectual disabilities, and drug addiction. I am a trial attorney that has taken cases to verdict during jury trials and have litigated complex legal issues. Additionally, I have argued two cases before the Fifth District Court of Appeals. Outside of the courtroom, my professional experience has included member and chair of the Grievance Committee, graduate of The Florida Bar’s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy (Class VI), President of the Brevard County chapter of FACDL (Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers), and member of Vassar B. Carlton American Inn of Court, to name a few. All of these experiences have contributed to my knowledge, abilities, and skills (both legally and in leadership) in preparation for the bench.
How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards?
When balancing precedent with evolving societal standards, I adhere to the law. Precedent typically includes the applicable law, a factual basis, and an analysis that applies the law to the facts of the case. Additionally, it is not uncommon for the court to make distinctions among cases to explain why various outcomes were reached. Therefore, even with evolving societal standards, I follow the law.
What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest?
After the Public Defender’s Office has been appointed to represent an individual, his/her case goes through our intake process. During intake, each case is assigned to an attorney. Our office uses an electronic system to manage cases, which will also alert attorneys to potential conflicts with a case. However, instead of simply relying on the database system, I conduct an independent review. Upon reading the police report(s) and/or the Assistant State Attorney’s witness list, I check our system and/or the clerk’s records to see if our office currently or has previously represented anyone involved in the case. Additionally, my assistant completes a conflict check for my cases, as well, then forwards her information to me for review. In our office, when a conflict has been identified, the issue is forwarded to a supervisor. Once a supervisor reviews the information concerning the conflict and grants authorization to move forward, a Motion to Withdraw is filed by the attorney. This process provides several levels of review to check for conflicts.
What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them?
Financial hardship is one barrier to justice since the expense of litigation can be costly. Litigation could include fees associated with court reporters, expert witnesses, an investigator, deposition transcripts, medical records, and more. In circumstances where the costs are imputed to the client, some may find it difficult to properly litigate their case. I would address any need for financial relief and/or resources and make decisions on a case-by-case basis. Another barrier to justice involves the challenges of navigating through our legal system for litigants who represent themselves. I would ensure their constitutional right to Due Process is protected, and without giving legal advice, steer them in the direction of resources that are available to assist (i.e. Law Library, Clerk of Court’s Office, etc.). Barriers to justice may also include unreasonable delays in proceedings, and alternatively, cases that are unreasonably accelerated through the system. When making decisions regarding the progression of a case, I would listen to both sides, review the court record, apply the law, and use my organizational and management skills, among others.
George Cole Gaspard
WEBSITE: gaspardforjudge.com/
What is your education?
I earned my Associate of Arts Degree from Palm Beach State College (formerly Palm Beach Community College), Lake Worth, Florida; Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies with a Certificate in Trial Advocacy from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida; and Juris Doctor with a Certificate in Children and Family Law and Book Awards in Trial Advocacy and Legal History from the Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, Orlando, Florida.
What role should personal values play in judicial decision-making?
It would depend on which values are being discussed. If the values are diligence, candor, thoughtfulness, patience, humility, and competence, among others: they should be at the forefront of judicial decision-making. If, however, the judicial values discussed are pertaining to personal feelings, political views, cultural views, and the like, then they have no place in the judiciary.
A judge is there to apply the law fairly and impartially, protect the constitutional rights of everyone who appears before the court, and decide each case based solely on the facts as applied to the law; not based on personal opinions. Our citizens deserve to know that when they walk into a courtroom, they’ll be heard, treated with respect, and have a judge who will fairly and impartially apply the law to the facts of each case.
Justice Antonin Scalia once opined that the judge who always likes the results he reaches is a bad judge. It is not for judges to legislate from the bench or bend the law to reach a preferred outcome. The responsibility of a judge is to faithfully apply the law as it is written; even when the result may not be popular.
What professional experiences have best prepared you for the bench?
My qualifications to serve as a Circuit Judge are founded upon more than a decade of public service, extensive courtroom experience, a commitment to the rule of law, and a demonstrated ability to fairly evaluate complex legal issues. Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to ensuring justice is administered fairly and serving the citizens of Florida with integrity and professionalism.
Since October 2020, I have served as Legal Counsel for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, providing legal guidance on constitutional, statutory, and administrative issues. In this role, I regularly analyze complex legal questions, advise agency leadership on matters requiring careful consideration of competing interests, and litigate Risk Protection Orders and Civil Asset Forfeitures.
Prior to joining the Sheriff’s Office, I was an Assistant State Attorney in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit for over six years. During that time, I prosecuted cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies, including homicide, child abuse, and sex crimes. This experience provided me with a deep understanding of criminal law, courtroom procedure, evidentiary issues, and the profound impact judicial decisions have on victims, defendants, and the community.
My experience as a former Florida Supreme Court Certified County and Circuit Mediator further strengthened my ability to listen carefully, remain impartial, and facilitate the fair resolution of disputes. Mediation taught me the importance of patience, professionalism, and ensuring that all parties feel heard and respected; qualities that are essential to effective judicial service.
In addition to my litigation and advisory work, I have devoted considerable time to legal education. I currently instruct legal courses for law enforcement and correctional officers, school resource officers, and police recruits. I have authored numerous internal legal training publications and have presented continuing legal education programs for attorneys and professional organizations. These experiences reflect my commitment to the law and my ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and effectively.
Combined with my reputation for integrity, fairness, judicial temperament, and public service, these experiences have prepared me to serve as an effective Circuit Judge who will uphold the Constitution, apply the law impartially, and treat every person who appears before the court with dignity and respect.
How do you balance precedent with evolving societal standards?
Precedent which is binding on the Court should always prevail over evolving societal standards. Courts are bound to the people that they serve to faithfully apply the law as it is written without regard for personal feelings; including precedent set by case law. In the event, however, that no such binding precedent exists, a court may find it appropriate to consider evolving societal standards in weighing certain decisions. Such balancing is often done, for example, when analyzing the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment contained in the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. At the time of its drafting, a variety of modes of execution were permissible. Today, however, when taking into consideration our evolving societal standards, certain methods of execution have been deemed unconstitutional.
What steps do you take to avoid conflicts of interest?
Avoiding conflicts of interest as a judge starts with being intentional about what might create even the appearance of bias. That means taking a close look at financial interests, prior professional relationships, former law partners, and personal relationships that could reasonably come before the court. If something could cause a fair-minded person to question impartiality, it needs to be taken seriously from the outset.
Just as important is being candid when a potential issue does arise. Disclosure on the record allows the parties to address it and, when appropriate, seek recusal. That kind of transparency is essential to maintaining trust in the process.
There are also times when recusal is simply the right call. Even if a judge believes they can be fair, the question is whether the circumstances might cause others to reasonably doubt it. Protecting confidence in the judiciary sometimes means stepping aside.
Finally, good habits matter. Avoiding financial entanglements, outside relationships, or public positions that could reasonably intersect with cases before the court goes a long way toward preventing problems before they ever arise.
What barriers to justice do you see in the current system, and how would you address them?
If one had to identify the greatest obstacle to justice, I would say it would be meeting an ever-growing demand for judicial services while ensuring that every person who comes before the court receives the time, attention, and fairness that justice requires.
Brevard and Seminole Counties continue to grow, and with that growth comes an increase in the number of criminal cases, family disputes, civil litigation, and other demands on the judicial system. While each of those cases represents someone’s life, livelihood, or liberty, the challenge for any judge is ensuring that, despite a busy docket, each person who walks into the courtroom knows that they have been provided a meaningful opportunity to be heard.
Justice delayed is justice denied. Victims wait for closure, families remain in limbo, businesses are left without answers, and defendants live with the uncertainty of pending charges. Cases must move efficiently, but never at the expense of due process.
Another challenge is ensuring that the community has meaningful access to justice. More people are appearing in court without attorneys because they cannot afford one. While judges must remain impartial and cannot advocate for either side, they can make sure that courtrooms remain respectful, procedures are understandable, and everyone has access to timely justice.
Additionally, the work of our courts has also become substantially more complex than it was even a decade ago. Today’s judges are tasked with evaluating digital evidence and addressing issues pertaining to rapidly evolving technology. Those challenges reinforce the need for continuing education and careful preparation--the law evolves and judges have an obligation to keep pace.