1964

In this politically charged year, it seems fitting to report on one of the most hotly contested races in the Southeast (of Florida). In a campaign marked by Miami lawyer Alex Varkas losing all control and being dragged away shouting, "Hop! Hop! Hop!" Hop Potter ran away with the election for a seat on the nine-member Key Biscayne Council in November. The council was formed to oppose uncontrolled development of Key Biscayne. Hop is a 727 captain with Eastern Airlines and is married to the lovely and talented Merni Sears Potter. Hop and Merni moved to Key Biscayne a little over a year ago and lo and behold discovered that Alex Varkas lived just across the street.

Described by Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis as "somebody who not only has been a tough, competent, and able prosecutor, but also somebody who cares about people,"Bill Teahan was sworn in as associate justice of the Springfield (Mass.) District Court. Bill graduated from Boston College Law School in 1970 and after being associated with a Springfield law firm for eight years, served as first district attorney of Hampden County until 1987. As Bill's wife, Mary, and 15-year-old daughter Katherine looked on, Dukakis also praised Bill as someone who has "paid his dues and will be a good and responsible judge." Praise for the appointment came in from many different directions. The president of the Massachusetts Bar Association called it a "truly superb appointment" and said that Teahan has been in the forefront of professional education of judges. The chief justice of the district courts said that the Teahan appointment was an example of the high quality of the Massachusetts judiciary.

As I write this, the temperature here in Boston is hovering around zero. When you read this column in March, I hope that you are a lot warmer than I feel now and that you're well into your best year yet.

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