Flanked by her sons Jackson McLean, 23, left, and Jake McLean, 25, Hillsborough County Public Defender Lisa McLean, center, is sworn in on Jan. 7 by Melissa Polo, chief judge for the 13th Judicial ...

Lisa McLean will be Hillsborough County’s next public defender, with results late Tuesday showing her leading Rocky Brancato in the race to replace the office’s longtime leader, Julianne Holt.

Hillsborough Public Defender candidate Lisa McLean speaks during a Tiger Bay Club forum at Hotel Haya on May 17 in Tampa. [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ] As she campaigns, McLean, 59, touts humble roots.

Julianne Holt’s retirement after three decades at the helm marks a turning point for the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s office. Of the two candidates running to succeed her, Lisa McLean ...

So the scene inside the county’s largest courtroom earlier this month had the flair of history as Lisa McLean raised a hand and took the oath to support and defend the Constitution.