Rice & Kwall

Rice & Kwall

Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice has been top cop at one of the largest law enforcement agencies in Florida for 15 years. His department, with a nearly $200 million budget, is known for implementing new technology to solve crimes.

Rice, 59, who is retiring in 11 months, said at a Feb. 12 Clearwater Bar Association meeting that he wouldn't have been elected for the first time in 1988 if not for his friends and fellow lawyers, Jean and Lou Kwall.

The lawyers shared a law practice, called Kwall & Rice, prior to Rice's election. "A lot of people thought we were a Chinese dish," Lou Kwall said, evoking laughs. "It's true the lawyers put me in office," Rice said, adding he wasn't sure they could do it again today.

St. Petersburg attorney Keith Meyer, left, and Clearwater Bar Association President Robert C. Dickinson III.

Photos by Janet Leiser

Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice, middle, with general counsel Jean Kwall, left, and department spokesperson Marianne Pasha, right.

Ken Burke is running for Pinellas County Clerk of the Court. Karleen DeBlaker is retiring at year's end.

Pinellas County Attorney Susan Churuti, left, and Pinellas County Judge Walt Fullerton.