4 Central Florida sheriffs re-elected unopposed, while 4 others face opponents

ORLANDO, Florida. – Four Central Florida sheriffs will continue to lead their respective law enforcement agencies after facing no opponents in their re-election races this week.

No candidates are 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.

As a result, all four sheriffs were re-elected to four-year terms.

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County sheriffs wield enormous power. They are the highest elected law enforcement officials in each Florida county, their powers enumerated in the Florida Constitution, including the power to appoint deputies. Florida sheriffs also oversee county jails, as well as law enforcement in circuit and county courts. Because they are elected rather than appointed like police chiefs, sheriffs have less control over their power.

Sheriffs from four other counties will have to run for office.

In Brevard County, Sheriff Wayne Ivey faces a write-in candidate, former Deputy Brian Allen Potters, in November.

In Marion County, Sheriff Billy Woods will hold a Republican primary in August against challenger Milton Busby, a former Florida Highway Patrol trooper.

In Osceola County, Sheriff Marcos Lopez will face four opponents in a Democratic primary in August. His opponents include former Sheriff Russ Gibson, Maj. Wiley Black of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, Amaryllis Rivera, a sheriff's community services officer, and Luis Fernandez, who works in the Department of Corrections' inspector general's office. from Florida.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face businessman Donnie Martinez, a Republican, in November.

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In Volusia County, Independent Party Sheriff Mike Chitwood faces a challenger in November from James L. Powers Jr., a Republican who works in construction.

Meanwhile, in Sumter County, four candidates are vying for a vacant seat, with Sheriff William Farmer Jr. leaving office.

In a Republican primary scheduled for August, Undersheriff Patrick Breeden will face Anthony Pellicano, a retired intelligence officer with the U.S. Department of Justice, and Daniel Sells, a former Orange County sheriff's deputy.

The winner will face unaffiliated party candidate Eric Ryan Anderson in November. Anderson is a business owner and former law enforcement officer.

The August primaries are reserved for registered members of political parties. Voters have until July 22 to change political parties if they wish to vote in the August primaries.

The November general election is for all voters, regardless of party.

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