Dozens of Florida sheriffs back Republicans DeSantis and Rubio in bid for reelection in Jacksonville

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Sheriffs came from across the state on Monday at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Jacksonville to show their support for Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Marco Rubio.

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These men and women behind the badge say they are working to re-elect the state’s Republican governor and U.S. senator to keep Florida, as they say, a law-and-order state.

Right now the governor is working on a bill that he says would attract more people into the law enforcement profession.

Governor Desantis stood next to dozens of sheriffs from across the state including those here locally, the Jacksonville, Clay, St. Johns, and Nassau County Sheriff’s Offices.

“In the legislative session, the Florida House is working on a bill that is incorporating what I had suggested last year and even building upon it, so yes, we want $5,000 signing bonuses for anybody who is qualified from out so state to come in or for people who are new to the profession in state,” DeSantis said.

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DeSantis said he doesn’t want Florida to become another Portland with what he described as rioters running amuck or a place that’s trying to defund the police.

It’s one of the many reasons Sheriff Michelle Cook said she would continue to stand by his side.

“While some politicians have chosen to remain silent or even lend their voice to those demanding the defunding of police, Governor Ron DeSantis has shown his support for law enforcement in a tangible way,” Cook said.

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During the sheriff’s conference U.S. Senator Marco Rubio was also endorsed by 55 of the state’s 67 sheriffs.

Rubio is up against democrat Val Demings, a former Orlando police officer and chief with 27 years of law enforcement experience.

When we asked him about the January 6 insurrection, Rubio said he condemned all types of rioting.

“When you go out telling people, ‘Look, I get it you burned down a building. I know you’re frustrated,’ and you treat that differently from some other type of rioting or looting, you’re encouraging it. People hear that and decide, you know what, I’m in a country where it’s okay to do that sort of thing. I condemn it across the board,” U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R) said.

Both DeSantis and Rubio are up for re-election in November.

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Action News Jax also reached out the Val Demings campaign in response to Florida sheriffs’ endorsing Marco Rubio.

Chief Demings said “Unlike lifelong politician Marco Rubio, I have an actual record of fighting crime and making our communities safer. As Orlando Chief of Police, I worked with my fellow officers to bring down violent crime by 40%. It’s shameful that lifelong politician Marco Rubio dare question my commitment to the men and women I served with for 27 years. These attacks are shameless, but I would expect nothing less than a career politician to play the only game he knows: politics.”