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Store,” she said. In fact, Colonneso was Bealls’ rst recipient of the R.M.
Beall Charitable Trust Scholarship.
After nearly years woring with the Cler of Court ofce in a variety of
roles, Colonneso left to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer. Once she
graduated from law school, she returned to Manatee County and wored as
an Assistant State Attorney under Earl Moreland. “I was a prosecutor for 11
years, prosecuting everything from petit thefts to DUIs, homicides, cases
involving gang violence and sexual battery,” she says.
That’s when Shore approached Colonneso about returning to the Cler of
Court ofce as his eneral Counsel. “He explained that his plan was to bring
me in as the eneral Counsel of the ofce while he mentored me rsthand to
succeed him when he retired,” Colonneso recalls. “Sadly, Mr. Shore passed
away before he was able to retire.”
After Shore’s passing, Colonneso was appointed Ad Interim Cler by the
Chief Judge of the 12th Judicial Circuit, The Honorable Charles Williams.
Then, overnor Scott appointed her to the position as Cler of the Circuit
Court to nish out Chip Shore’s term. In October 2015, Colonneso ran for
her rst ofcial term and was elected.
Today, between her career with the Cler’s Ofce and as a prosecutor,
Colonneso has served Manatee County’s court system for more than
25 years.
“I have a passion for this multifaceted job, and I tae a great deal of pride
in serving my hometown community,” she says. “It was an honor that my
predecessor ased me to succeed him. He was highly regarded in Manatee
County. He was an innovator, and I plan to follow that path into the future
and bring the best services possible to the citizens of Manatee County.”