Attorney Lisa McLean to run for Hillsborough Public Defender

TAMPA — For the first time in 20 years, Hillsborough County voters will get to decide who they want to be their public defender. Lisa McLean, a longtime Tampa criminal defense attorney who describes herself as an “in the trenches” lawyer, announced this week that she will run to succeed Public Defender Julianne Holt, who is retiring after 30 years in office. McLean will face Rocky Brancato, who is Holt’s chief operations officer, in the 2024 Democratic primary election. Holt has endorsed Brancato to be her successor. It will be the first time that more than one candidate has run…