Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey is seeking re-election this year. Gainey, a Republican, faced no opposition in his party’s primary. Chad Scott won a three-way Democratic primary in August. Additionally, a no party affiliation candidate, Pamela Marshall-Koons, will be on the ballot in November.
News4Jax sent a questionnaire to each candidate asking about their background and their views on several issues. Scroll down to read the responses of those seeking your vote -- in their own words.
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Note: Responses are sorted alphabetically by party and are presented exactly as submitted, with no editing by News4JAX staff.
| DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE |
Chad Scott
This candidate has not yet responded to email and phone invitations to complete the News4JAX candidate questionnaire. If any responses are received, they will be promptly added to this space.
Campaign website: chadscottforsheriff.com
Campaign social media: Facebook
Emery Gainey
Occupation: Sheriff of Alachua County
Age: 65
Family: Married
Education: University of Florida BA Criminal Justice
Political experience: Sheriff of Alachua County October 2023 - Current.
Sheriff of Marion County May 2016- January 2017.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
1. Rebuilding trust and honor at the agency through proven compassionate and experienced leadership.
2. Restaffing the agency with dedicated employees has been a top priority. Over the past nine months, my team and I have made significant strides towards this goal, achieving a net gain of 93 new employees to fill the 248 vacant positions we inherited upon taking office.
3. Reestablishing positive working relationships with our local, state and federal partners has been crucial in addressing the unacceptable rise in gun violence and other criminal activities committed by those who chose to violate the rights of law-abiding citizens.
My team and I began this task upon returning to Sheriff’s Office in September 2023 (one month before being sworn in as the Sheriff) and continue to do so by addressing both internal culture and external perceptions. To-date, there has been great success. Additionally, my 39 plus years of experience and success in law enforcement serve as my qualifications.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
I have brought a wealth of executive leadership, fiscal expertise, and proven “successful” leadership back to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. The citizens of Alachua County along with the agency members, deserve an experienced leader who has served in the role of Sheriff. I’ve successfully done so in both Marion and Alachua Counties. I have a proven record demonstrating my ability to effectively work with community leaders by “actually” accomplishing this job requirement, not by promising to do so. This is what I have and will continue to do differently than my opponents.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
An effective “servant leader” who put the needs of the community and agency members above myself, while providing consistent and compassionate enforcement of the law to all citizens.
Campaign website: emerygainey.com
Campaign social media: Facebook
| NO PARTY AFFILIATION CANDIDATE |
Pamela Marshall-Koons
Occupation: Executive Director - At The WELLness Network, Public Policy/Corporate Strategist, Author - The Art of Forgiveness - An Expression of Peace, Yoga/Mindfulness Coach for children and families in our deserving communities.
Age: 62
Family: Husband-Scott Koons, son-Brennan L. Marshall, Sr., grandson Brennan “BJ” L. Marshall, Jr.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree from Columbia College, Chicago, IL.
Political experience: Served as mayoral Chief of Staff, Executive Director for tri-state economic development agency, Vice President of Public Policy/Legislative Affairs for the Greater Memphis Chamber, Dir. of Public Policy in healthcare, transportation, housing and economic development.
What do you see as the top three issues in this race, and how do you plan to address them?
Gun Violence
Gun violence has been declared a public health crisis. The fear of mass shooting or random acts of violence is impacting the mental health in our homes, our workplaces, our schools or just going shopping. Despite law enforcement’s hard work, we need new innovative solutions to address this crisis. With my public policy and legislative expertise, I will collaborate with local, state and federal officials and community programs to stop gun homicides and gun suicides. As a mom, I understand the impact of home life on schools and streets, and I’m committed to building collaborations for sustainable solutions through public policy corrections. We can not handcuff our way out of this gun violence epidemic. We must get to the root cause by starting with our families in our homes because we can not take back our streets until we take back our homes.
Family Engagement and Trust Building in the Community
Mental illness is not a crime. We must be proactive in helping families and our veterans suffering with mental illness and substance abuse issues. Putting the mental ill in cages does not correct a brain or neurological disorder.
We must be proactive in protecting our elderly from scams and elderly abuse.
We will develop and support programs that foster positive interactions between the Sheriff’s Department and families such as youth outreach programs, parenting workshops, community policing initiatives, and regular town hall meetings to hear residents’ concerns and suggestions. Supporting Moms, Dads and their children is our greatest tool in reducing crime in our communities. We must establish partnerships with social services, healthcare providers, and educational institutions to create a holistic approach to public safety.
Trust Building within Alachua County Sheriff’s Office
We will provide leadership to ensure everyone is treated with respect and that we develop and maintain clear, standardized policies and procedures for all deputies to follow. Our goal will be to ensure that the Sheriff’s Department is adequately staffed and equipped to help keep our community safe. We will explore other best practices where the retention rate is high and turnover rate is low.
How can you help voters in a way that others running for this office cannot?
As a candidate for Alachua County Sheriff, my 30-plus years in public policy and legislative affairs experience in healthcare, transportation, economic development, housing, urban planning, public health, and mental health advocacy sets me apart. I bring a unique perspective and proactive leadership, shaping policies that ensure our community’s safety and well-being.
It is not enough to simply have a seat at the table. I possess the expertise to be in the kitchen, where the critical ingredients of public policies are crafted. This hands-on experience enables me to influence and drive the decision-making processes that directly affect the safety of our homes, schools, and neighborhoods.
As Sheriff, I will leverage my policy-making experience to ensure our law enforcement is proactive and preventive. My ability to navigate complex issues across party lines allows me to collaborate effectively with local, state, and federal entities ensuring our community benefits from well-crafted, forward-thinking public safety policies.
What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?
We will release the most comprehensive safety plan of any Sheriff candidate. Law enforcement is a must after an incident happens. My public policy/legislative experience will focus on prevention through changes that address the root cause of crime and violence.
As the Alachua County Sheriff, we will create the safest community in the state. Our plan will be a model for other communities across the country. I hope to be remembered as a peace ambassador that implemented a community-wide Peace Takes Practice initiative that helped to cultivate harmony in our homes that spilled over into our schools, our workplaces, and our streets.
Campaign website: www.pamela4sheriff.org
Campaign social media: Facebook