The Jacksonville City Council will take its first step toward replacing Sheriff Mike Williams today when it meets at noon to set a special election to choose the next sheriff. What happens from there? It’s a little complicated, and includes the possibility that three new sheriffs could serve in the next 13 months.
The special election is expected to be held on Aug. 23rd, and a winner will be declared outright if a candidate gets more than 50% of the vote. If not, a runoff will be on Nov. 8th. Candidate registration runs June 10th-17th, and the election will be open to all registered voters in the city regardless of party affiliation. The winner will serve through next June.
In the meantime, though, all eyes are on Gov. Ron DeSantis, who, under the city charter, is asked to appoint an acting sheriff to serve until the elected candidate goes on board. A question: Will DeSantis appoint a candidate who’s running for sheriff already — giving that candidate an incumbent’s advantage in the race — or will the choice be someone with no skin in the game?
And finally, the regular city elections will be held in March 2023, with a run-off in May. The winner of that sheriff’s election will be sworn in on July 1, 2023, and serve a full term of office.
Williams is stepping down this Friday rather than face a legal battle over whether he violated a city residency requirement when he moved to Nassau County last year.
UPDATE
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday morning that he would appoint Undersheriff Pat Ivey as sheriff of Jacksonville on Friday after Sheriff Mike Williams retires. DeSantis also announced his endorsement for T.K. Waters, chief of investigations for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, at a news conference in Jacksonville.