Sheriff Watson withdraws from 2024 election
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr., has announced that he will not be running for re-election.
In an email to employees at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ASO), Watson said he is making the “tough decision to step aside and prepare the organization for new leadership that will continue to advance our agency toward the future.”
He went on to state that he will not be running for re-election and wrote, “This decision was not made lightly and I want each one of you to know that I will continue to serve you all with honor and professionalism throughout the rest of my time as your Sheriff.”
In a letter to the Supervisor of Elections, Watson stated that he will be returning all campaign donations.
Watson recently reversed disciplinary actions against three deputies after Judge Donna Keim found that his office had violated their rights under Florida law. A large number of subpoenas were also issued to agency members in April, and State Attorney Brian Kramer’s office told Alachua Chronicle they could not comment on an active investigation.
Good
One down at ASO, as it should be. Thank you Sheriff for doing the right thing for Alachua County.
GPD, you’re next.
Gainesville Florida was not READY for Sheriff Watson
Can he withdraw from being Sheriff effective immediately? Get this clown far far away from here.
I guess we could take Sade back.
Will we ever find out what those April subpoenas were for? Must be pretty bad if he is returning campaign donations.
Given the way this guy was elected I’m not surprised.
I for one am so GLAD I voted for Sheriff Watson. Welcomed the change after Sade
For all the good that did.
Does LD stand for “Lone Duck” in support of Watson? Nobody steps down as Sheriff after one term. He’s obviously got legal troubles coming and doesn’t want to have a forced resignation. Just Go Clo!
Good Riddance!
Bring Back SADIE!😁👍😎
I will NEVER vote for Sade and hope Tony Jones run for office
Given the current state of ignorance in Alachua County, he would probably win.
Tony Jones? The guy who wouldn’t hold his racist officers accountable for their dog ripping an unarmed black man’s eye out? Wow? I just want good people in high positions and Tony Jones is not a good person.
How old is Sexy Sadie? Does she want her old job back.
If she returns crime will be worse than now.
It will take years for this agency to recover from his “leadership”. ASO’s reputation has been severely damaged and a lot of great employees were treated extremely poorly and left rather than suffer through this reign of incompetence.
Sorry it was time for a change in leadership. The good ole days are over.
All the Dem lemmings had to vote for this joker “cuz George Floyd!”
Only Democrats were allow to vote, somehow. Gainesvilles Finest.
How silly you sound. Sheriff Watson was a jewel that Gainesville was to silly to understand. Tallahassee is the place for him
Actually, Gainesville voters are too silly to understand much of anything.
Must have something to do with their comprehension – of anything.
*See City Commission results.
LD if you’ve not joking & really believe that- you must also believe in the Tooth Fairy.
Could we make Grady Judd an offer he can’t refuse? Or have at least one of his disciples come to Alachua County & run for Sheriff?
The jail isn’t big enough for the people he would arrest.
Could you imagine though? The liberals would have a stroke if someone like Judd or Chitwood rode into town.
They would loose the F’ing mind
No I would not I would put Merrick Garland on speed dial
Garland cant come to Florida. It would make his liberal mind implode to see free conservatives walking the streets. Plus he is too much of a “meow” to be in law enforcement. He would last a day on the streets.
Would not last a day
Here’s Justice- yes!!
The streets of Gainesville would flood with Libtard tears…and it would be the most beautiful thing!
Nope but we could offer the job to Steve Ergle
Don’t let the door hit your bum on the way out.
Good Put A Constitutional Sheriff In There. 1776
What’s going on Clovis? What were the April subpoenas for? Are you being investigated for some shady business? The public has a right to know? You are an elected official.
Maybe the returned campaign donations came from Soros or BLM.
Maybe Zuckerbucks included ??;
As a law enforcement Sheriff/Police Chief you will NEVER make everyone happy. That is okay. Your job is to promote the best/most qualified, enforce policy, follow the contracts and make your county/city the best for the citizens. I, personally, do not believe Sheriff Watson did what he signed up to do. However, I believe that in order to get this area back on track we need to quit the name calling and focus on finding someone that will actually serve the public as their position requires.
Maybe he can start a new prisoner export industry for repeat offenders. After he can start a referendum for a 3 Strikes state amendment.
There’s two career change paths for you, sheriff.
AND ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST.
So he comes in, destroys the place, drops mic and leaves? I think he realized 1) all the internal dirt would come out during the election 2) that the job is harder than he thought and 3) that he needed to get out while the gettin was good.
I hope the FDLE doesn’t stop looking into his shadiness. He needs to be held accountable. He should not be allowed to run for any other office with an outstanding investigation.
#%*# You, Sherrrriiiffff (did I get your title correct?). You should have never been in that position. You lied and cheated your way in and you’re lying and cheating on your way out. And you have left a wake of collateral damage. Your ego and ignorance won’t let you see or admit to yourself how much of the community and agency despise you. Psht. Bye, Felicia!
Tom – thank you for an excellent summary of Clovis’ tenure or should I say reign?
It seems there’s more dirt to come on Clovis and the sycophants he empowered during his brief but powerfully damaging time in office.
It can’t come out too soon.