Santa Rosa County Attorney looks to new career as judge

Santa Rosa County Attorney Tom Dannheisser’s hardest day was Friday as he packed up his final few things to complete the move from his office on Caroline St. in Milton to his new office in Pensacola.

Back on Aug. 9, Dannheisser, who has served as the Santa Rosa County Attorney for the last 24 years, was appointed to take over a position being created by the retirement of Judge David Ackerman.

During his judicial career Dannheisser was an assistant Escambia County Attorney from 1983 to 1986, when he took the job in Santa Rosa County, was an assistant state attorney with the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit from 1982 to 1983 and before that was with the Twelfth Judicial Circuit form 1991 to 1982.

The University of Florida Law School grad is excited and sad at the same time about the opportunity ahead of him.

“The whole transition is difficult,” Dannheisser said. “Santa Rosa County is a great place and the best run county government in Northwest Florida or Florida for that matter.

“It has been a joy for me to work with the county and staff. I would have to say this is one of the best legal jobs I have ever had.”

 While Dannheisser will mostly deal with criminal cases as a judge in Pensacola, there could be some times he would like to sink his teeth back into a county matter like he has done locally since 1986.

“This will definitely be different for me,” Dannheisser said. “I will miss what I do here a lot, but I am up for the new challenge.”

In getting Governor Charlie Crist’s appointment on Aug. 9, Dannheisser was please to be nominated by his fellow lawyers and those participating in the selection process, but one thing as he tried for this position really surprised him.

“Everyone who applies for the judges position is qualified or they wouldn’t be interviewed,” Dannheisser said. “But I was so gratified to find our Santa Rosa County citizens wrote letters of support to the board and the governor involving my appointment.

“Learning people thought that much of me and felt I would make a good judge is very gratifying.”

Even Crist spoke very highly of Dannheisser when he made the appointment.

“Tom has a long-standing commitment and dedication to pursuing public service and to fairly and compassionately enforcing Florida law,” Governor Crist said. “I am confident his over two decades of experience will serve him well as he takes the bench.”

During his years serving as the County Attorney, Dannheisser has seen a lot of changes.

“The biggest change is for Santa Rosa County has been its growth and the additional regulations and mandates,” Dannheisser said. “If there has been one constant it has been the Santa Rosa County government board after board.

“Each board has insisted on keeping common sense in government and not a lot have done that else where.”

Despite getting his law degree at UF, Dannheisser will be the first to tell you he doesn’t know it all.

“Being a lawyer or judge requires constant education,” Dannheisser said. “No matter how long you do this you will never know it all.”

But for the 54-year-old attorney, he feels a part of Santa Rosa County and always will.

“Working for and with the people of Santa Rosa County the past 24 years has been the most rewarding,” Dannheisser said. “So there is no question Santa Rosa is a part of me.

“It is so rewarding in this job I have done to help people with their questions and problems when it involves issues with government and regulations”