EST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Even in the end, even after the county canvassing board fell just hours short of its deadline, Judge Charles Burton was even-tempered.
Sure he was disappointed. Standing in front of a bank of microphones, he sounded weary and a bit bitter. He also sounded more than a bit Boston.
Burton, the canvassing board chairman on whose every decision the presidency, in part, hung in recent weeks, is another Florida transplant. Growing up, home was Newton. College was Suffolk University. He even interned for US Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
''Oh yeah, he's from there, too,'' said county spokeswoman Denise Corte, who hails from North Andover and who also retains her hometown accent despite claims to the contrary.
But Burton, 42, has called South Florida home for some time. After Suffolk, he attended Nova University law school, now Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale, where professors remembered him when prompted but otherwise described him as unmemorable. In fact, until the recount clash in Palm Beach County, he was hardly known outside the local legal community. He was known as ''Chuck.''
Burton, a registered Democrat, was appointed to the bench in May. Coincidentally, he was tapped by Governor Jeb Bush, whose brother George W. stood to gain or lose depending on the decisions Burton and the two other board members made in their strongly Democratic county.
Burton was assigned to handle misdemeanor criminal cases for the county circuit court, a position he has been unable to fulfill in the almost three weeks since the ballot controversy began. His involvement came by happenstance, after the chief judge assigned him to the normally mundane task of serving on the canvassing board.
The board proved more conservative than its counterpart in Broward County. That led to complaints from Democrats and threats of a lawsuit if final returns didn't go Al Gore's way. Republicans had their share of complaints, too, about the recount process even occurring.
Burton took the griping in stride, refusing to play favorites. That's how local lawyers have described his courtroom style, too, even those whose clients have lost their cases before him.
''He's a good guy,'' said Boca Raton defense attorney Richard B. Barkin. ''As a judge he goes out of his way to be impartial. He has a wonderful judicial disposition. He keeps control of his courtroom.''
Burton, like Barkin, worked in the county prosecutor's office, serving an 11-year stint, most recently as head of the unit that oversaw cases involving crimes against children and sex crimes. Afterward, he spent five years in private practice.
Maintaining his privacy, however, may be impossible now. With the canvassing board's every ballot examination broadcast on area television, and his emergence as the board's pivotal figure, Burton probably will not even be able to visit Boston without drawing attention.
But he never pretended the work was pleasant, only important. And he made sure to thank everyone who had a hand in the hand recount.
''This was really an amazing operation here,'' said Burton. ''I could think of a lot more exciting things to do than sit here counting ballots all week.''
