Group 14: Melissa Black
Melissa Black was the top-vote getter in this four-way August primary, and she is the standout in this general election race. Her legal experience, civic contributions and dedication to the most vulnerable make her uniquely suited for the people’s arena that is county court.
Black, 42, was born in Brandon and has lived in Hillsborough County for more than 35 years. A graduate of the University of Florida and Stetson College of Law, Black began her career as an assistant attorney general in Hillsborough representing the Florida Department of Children and Families in child dependency and termination of parental rights cases. She then founded her own firm and continued to work in the juvenile dependency system, representing foster children, victims of human trafficking and children with special needs.