ORLANDO, Fla. – Four Central Florida sheriffs will continue to lead their respective law enforcement agencies after getting no opponents for their reelection races this week.
No candidates qualified to run against Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell, Orange County Sheriff John Mina or Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma.
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As a result, all four sheriffs were reelected to four-year terms.
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County sheriffs wield enormous power. They are the highest elected law enforcement official in each Florida county, with their powers enumerated in the Florida Constitution, including the power to appoint deputies. Sheriffs in Florida also oversee the county jails, as well as law enforcement for the circuit and county courts. Because they are elected, rather than appointed like police chiefs, sheriffs have fewer checks on power.
Sheriffs in four other counties will have to run for reelection.
In Brevard County, Sheriff Wayne Ivey is facing a write-in candidate, former deputy Brian Allen Potters in November.
In Marion County, Sheriff Billy Woods will have an August Republican primary against challenger Milton Busby, a former Florida Highway Patrol trooper.
In Osceola County, Sheriff Marcos Lopez will face four opponents in an August Democratic Primary. His opponents include former Sheriff Russ Gibson, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Major Wiley Black, Amaryllis Rivera, a community service officer for the sheriff’s officer, and Luis Fernandez, who works in the inspector general’s office for the Florida Department of Corrections.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face businessman Donnie Martinez, a Republican, in November.
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In Volusia County, Sheriff Mike Chitwood, a member of the Independent Party, is facing a challenger in November from James L. Powers Jr., a Republican who works in construction.
Meanwhile, in Sumter County, four candidates are vying for an open seat, with Sheriff William Farmer Jr. leaving office.
In a Republican primary set for August, undersheriff Patrick Breeden will face Anthony Pellicano, a retired U.S. Department of Justice intelligence officer, and Daniel Sells, a former Orange County sheriff’s deputy.
The winner will face no party affiliate candidate Eric Ryan Anderson in November. Anderson is a business owner and former law enforcement officer.
The August primaries are only for registered political party members. Voters have until July 22 to change political parties if they wish to vote in an August primary.
The November general election is for all voters, regardless of party.
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