Suskauer wins race for Bar president-elect: small firm criminal defense lawyer from West Palm Beach will promote inclusiveness.

West Palm Beach attorney Michelle Suskauer has been chosen as president-elect designate of The Florida Bar.

Suskauer won over fellow Board of Governors member Lanse Scriven of Tampa receiving 12,993 votes to Scriven's 10,188 votes in the first contested election for Bar president since 2011.

The balloting also decided three Board of Governors races.

Suskauer will be sworn in as president-elect at the Bar's Annual Convention in Boca Raton on June 23, when current President-elect Michael J. Higer of Miami becomes president. Suskauer will begin her term as Bar president in June 2018.

"I was incredibly emotional and overwhelmingly happy," Suskauer said when she heard the election results. "It's been a long 14 months crisscrossing the state and nonstop days meeting hundreds of lawyers at firms, events, and speaking engagements.

"There are so many lessons that I walked away with, and I would do it again. The journey was incredible," she added. "I've met and spoken with so many folks in every single practice area in every corner of the state."

That included meeting with public sector as well as private attorneys, including those in small firms like Suskauer's.

"I think a lot of attorneys felt comfortable knowing I have the same struggles and deal with the same issues they do, and I think that resonated with many folks," she said. "Depending on where they practice, they have specific issues and concerns that they want to see if the Bar can help them with."

Suskauer said she was disappointed voter turnout was slightly lower than in 2011, which she said may have come from people feeling distanced from the Bar.

"I don't want people to feel excluded, and I want to be inclusive," she said. "So many lawyers felt disconnected and disenfranchised. So my job is, 'What can we do to bring everyone together?'"

After the results were announced, Scriven in a Facebook post wished Suskauer well as she assumes her new leadership role.

"I take solace in the fact that I did my absolute best and that so many of you joined me in that effort through your votes, prayers, and words of encouragement," Scriven said.

Suskauer is a criminal defense attorney in a two-lawyer office in West Palm Beach. She is married to Judge Scott Suskauer of the 15th Circuit in Palm Beach County.

After graduating from Boston University in 1988 with a degree in communications, Suskauer received her law degree from American University in 1991 and went to work that year at the Office of the 15th...