ORANGE PARK, Fla. – Candidates for Clay County sheriff faced off during a forum Tuesday night in Orange Park, just months before voters will head to the polls.
It’s the first time in 12 years a new sheriff will take office there, as Rick Beseler steps down after four terms.
Recommended Videos
Some of the topics tackled during the debate at Ridgeview High School included crime, budget issues and illegal drugs.
The candidates took on the issues – and each other.
“Mr. Daniels has been suspended multiple times, written reprimands and even an arrest at one point. So for him to get up and bad-mouth the unions is totally appalling to me,” said Craig Aldrich, Clay County sheriff candidate.
New4Jax uncovered a 1991 citation for a Darryl Ramon Daniels in Duval County Court for providing alcohol to a minor. Daniels told News4Jax Wednesday that he was not arrested as Aldrich claimed.
“I remember that clearly. I was not arrested. That is not unlike a traffic ticket. I wasn’t even a police officer at the time," Daniels, another candidate for Clay County sheriff said. “It doesn’t even have a bearing on my performance as a law enforcement office the past 25 years.”
News4Jax told Aldrich that Daniels said he was not arrested, but Aldrich said he stands by the claim he made.
“I believe the constituents of Clay County need to research their candidates and know their whole background," said Aldrich. “I stand by my comment.”
At the forum Tuesday, Daniels said, “Folks, let me tell you something about a man in Clay County. Men in Clay County will not stand for another man snatching on his wife and not defend her honor.”
But for the most part, the forum centered on the main issues facing Clay County voters.
“I think our biggest priority is going to be making sure that crime from Jacksonville does not bleed over into Clay County. They have gang problems. They have violence. Every day, there’s people in the newspaper that are killed as a result of the violence,” said James Jett, another candidate.
Harold Rutledge, Clay County Sheriff candidate, said, “As your next sheriff, I plan on going out and searching for those men and women who work at the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and rise them up to positions of leadership and help them help me make the Clay County Sheriff’s Office a better place to work.”
Leslie Dougher, chairman of the Clay County Republican Party, said, overall, growing problems like crime and drugs were fully addressed.
“Some of the crime that’s coming in from other counties -- we have some issues on the Northside with our mall -- but I think all of the Sheriff’s Office candidates answered those questions. What was their vision, how would they solve those problems and what would it look like with the new sheriff in Clay County.”