Democratic candidate Chad Scott won about 47% of the votes, ultimately clinching the Alachua County sheriff race. The race had a margin of just 392 votes, the closest local sheriff race in recent history.
After the race was deemed too close to call on Nov. 5, the Alachua County Canvassing Board issued a machine recount of the votes. The recount was formally completed Nov. 13, though the results will not be officially certified until the Board meets on Nov. 15, according to a press release from the Supervisor of Elections office.
Scott did not respond to The Alligator’s calls about the results but claimed victory for himself during a watch party held by Gainesville Women for Harris on Nov. 5.
“We put in a lot of hard work,” Scott said, “and because of it, we won.”
Scott, who was born and raised in Gainesville, completed his police academy training in Alachua County and began his career at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office in 1990, where he first served as a school resource officer and then worked on drug crime enforcement.
His platform centered around three main points: crime prevention, community engagement and drug enforcement, according to his website.
One of Scott’s supporters, former Alachua County undersheriff Joel DeCoursey Jr., said his experience working with Scott gave him confidence in the candidate’s qualifications for office. Scott also previously served as second in command when DeCoursey was chief of police for Alachua County.
“Chad Scott and I go back some thirty years in law enforcement,” DeCoursey said. “He’s a father, he’s a grandfather, and he’s a good man and Christian.”
Moreover, DeCoursey said, “he’s earned it.”
Scott previously stated that three of his top priorities if elected would be to restaff the agency, focus on tackling violent crime and emphasize school safety. As Alachua County Sheriff, Scott said he would address gun violence, addiction and work to expand services for domestic violence victims.
In 2007, Scott was fired by the former Sheriff Sadie Darnell, over allegations that he’d failed to be honest in his work and to properly supervise his subordinates. He sued in 2008, but the case was dismissed by a circuit court judge.
Darnell endorsed Gainey as sheriff for the current election.
Scott then served as Chief of Police in the city of Alachua. Later, he rejoined the sheriff’s office in 2022, working his way up to colonel — he resigned as a colonel to run for sheriff in 2023. Scott said he ran for Alachua County Sheriff because he believes in the potential of his community and the urgent need for change.
“I’ve witnessed the effects of gun violence and mental health struggles firsthand, and it breaks my heart. I want to create a safer, more supportive environment for all of us,” Scott said in a statement to The Alligator. “It’s important to me that every voice is heard and that our policies reflect compassion and equity.”
Who were the opponents?
Emery Gainey, who served as Alachua County Sheriff for the past year after previous Sheriff Clovis Watson stepped down, was previously appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as Alachua County Sheriff and sought to continue his work in Alachua County through the election.
He is one of the few Republicans to have been sheriff, which has historically gone to Democrats.
Gainey previously served as Marion County Sheriff and chief of staff for the Florida Attorney General’s Office.
“I am running for sheriff to restore honor, dedication and integrity to the citizens of Alachua County and members of the ACSO,” Gainey said in a written statement to The Alligator. “While also tackling the persistent crime issues in our community.”
Gainey was endorsed by all sheriffs in Florida, according to his website. He was also endorsed by the Florida Police Benevolent Association, a state-wide police union.
Gainey did not respond to The Alligator's calls on Nov. 13, but noted on election night that he knew there would likely be a recount.
“We will abide by whatever that decision is,” Gainey said on Nov. 5.
Pamela Marshall-Koons is the executive director of the WELLness Network, a holistic health non-profit organization. She ran as the non-partisan candidate and has no prior law enforcement experience.
Marshall-Koons ran a platform focusing on several progressive policies, such as wanting to prevent over-incarceration, combating gun violence and destigmatizing mental health. She envisions an Alachua County “where the mentally ill and veterans receive the support and care they deserve, breaking the cycle of incarceration,” according to her website.
While living in Memphis, Tennessee, Marshall-Koons held several local government positions such as chief of staff for the Shelby County Mayor’s Office. The position gave her oversight into all county departments, including the sheriff’s office and the county jail, The Alligator previously reported.
Marshall-Koons said neither candidate addressed mental health issues and highlighted families and individuals dealing with mental illness.
Despite the loss, she hopes to continue doing community work that will improve public policy, and help others understand the root cause of crime and destigmatize mental illness. Marshall-Koons said she wants to change the narrative on third-party candidates and allow people to be seen for their message, not their party or race.
“I can’t see the house on fire and not try to do something to put the fire out,” Marshall-Koons said.
Previous debates
In the October sheriff debate, which aired on WCJB’s TV20, all three candidates stood amongst each other and debated on topics surrounding gun violence prevention, morale in the sheriff’s office and improving Alachua County’s jail system.
Scott said as Chief of Police, he immediately worked on combating gun violence within Gainesville. Similarly, Gainey noted that as sheriff, he kickstarted a Gun Violence Task Force in March and said that in the months after, gun violence went down.
Marshall-Koons said in her response that the only way to prevent gun violence is by getting to the root cause and noted gun-related suicides are also at the forefront of her mind.
Candidates concluded the debate with their closing remarks by reiterating their platform points and highlighting what they’d bring to Alachua County as sheriff: leadership, commitment and victim advocacy.
“This is not just a job for me, it’s a calling.” Scott said during his closing statement. “It’s a calling on my life.”
Contact Vivienne Serret at vserret@alligator.org. Follow her on X @vivienneserret.
Vivienne Serret is a UF journalism and criminology senior, serving as the Fall 2024 race and equity reporter for The Alligator's Enterprise desk. She previously worked as a columnist and previously reported for The Alligator's university desk as the student government reporter. She loves karaoke and lifting at the gym.
