Former St. Johns sheriff enters Senate race for District 7 | Local News Observer

In what could be one of the highest-profile legislative primary elections this year, former St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar has opened a campaign account to run for a seat that will be vacated by the senator in term-limited Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine.

Shoar, a Republican, opened the account Friday, June 7, according to the state Division of Elections website. House Appropriations Chairman Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, is also running for the Senate District 7 seat.

The district is made up of St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties and part of Volusia.

Leek has won support from Republican leaders, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and new Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula.

Shoar was first elected St. Johns County sheriff in 2004 and served until 2020. He joined the Woolsey Morcom law firm in 2023 as director of investigations, according to the firm's website .

The candidates will officially qualify this week for the legislative elections. Other candidates with open accounts in Senate District 7 are Republican Gerry James, Democrat George Anthony Hill II and unaffiliated candidate Michael Levone Gist.

The primary elections will take place on August 20. The online site Florida's Voice first announced Shoar's candidacy last week.