Three candidates are seeking the office of Alachua County Sheriff and appear on the 2024 November ballot.

Current Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in September 2023 to fulfill Clovis Watson Jr.’s remaining term, is running as the Republican candidate, while Chad Scott won the Democratic Party nomination in August and Pamela D. Marshall-Koons is running as a non-partisan candidate.

Mainstreet is republishing the candidate questionnaire answers as received prior to the Aug. 20 primary election, with only edits for clarity and length.

Republican candidate

Emery Gainey

Name: Emery A. Gainey

Age: 65

Occupation: Sheriff of Alachua County

Previous Experience in elected office:

• Appointed Sheriff of Marion County in 2016 by former Governor Rick Scott to fulfill an unexpired term.
• Appointed Sheriff of Alachua County starting Oct.1, 2023, by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fulfill unexpired term.

Public Service other than elected office:

• Trustee, District Board of Trustees, Santa Fe College, currently serving as board chair
• Member of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ state law enforcement transition team
• Member of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission
• Member of the 8th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission
• Chief of Staff and Director of Law Enforcement & Victim Services, Florida Office of the Attorney General
• Various positions from deputy sheriff to chief of staff, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (1982 – 2007)

What prompted you to run for election:

Upon being appointed Sheriff of Alachua County, I immediately realized the severity of the crisis I inherited at the agency. There were 248 unfilled positions along with close to two dozen additional staff planning to leave the agency by year’s end. It became apparent that the agency needed experienced leadership to not only guide the incredible staff of dedicated men and women here, but also a long-term proven administrator to fix the void in leadership. I am running for sheriff to bring honor, dedication and integrity back to the Sheriff’s office, while addressing the ongoing crime issues in our community.

What two things would you prioritize as Alachua County Sheriff:

Restoring trust and honor at the agency through demonstrated compassionate and experienced personal leadership, which includes restaffing the agency with men and women with the same vision and dedication to serve. To date, my team and I have made significant strides in accomplishing this goal over the past nine months, with a net gain of 93 new members, given normal staff turnover.

Reestablishing positive working relationships with all our partner agencies within Alachua County, surrounding counties, state and federal agencies. This task was accomplished within weeks of my returning to the ACSO and has been strengthened by “actually” working together with our law enforcement partners, community partners and the business community.

To adequately provide the highest level of quality and effective services to our citizens, we must maintain proper staffing to address the daily challenges our employees’ encounter.

What would you do differently that your opponents:

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.

Democratic candidate

Chad Scott 

Age: 57 

Occupation: Captain in the city of Alachua’s Police Department 

Website: chadscottforsheriff.com/  

Previous experience in elected office: 

None 

Public service other than elected office: 

I have been a law enforcement officer for over 35 years. I began my career in the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, served as Chief of Police in Alachua, and held various roles within law enforcement including school resource officer, Special Operations, narcotics investigations, and leading initiatives in community policing and drug prevention programs. I’ve worked in every single department of the Sheriff’s office. 

What prompted you to run for election? 

I am running for Sheriff because I believe in the power of community-based law enforcement to make a significant difference. My entire career has been devoted to public safety, community engagement and proactive policing. I am deeply committed to continuing this work on a larger scale, ensuring that our community is safe, our law enforcement is responsive, and our children grow up in a nurturing environment. 

What two things would you prioritize as Alachua County Sheriff? 

If elected as Alachua County Sheriff, my top priorities would be enhancing community policing to strengthen trust between law enforcement and the community, and expanding mental health resources within the department. Enhancing community policing involves increasing officer presence in communities, fostering open dialogues with residents, and implementing educational programs that promote safety and awareness. For mental health, I aim to double the size of our mental health officers and add additional leadership and resources to make sure we can get individuals the help they need. 

What would you do differently than your opponents? 

I am the only candidate who has served as a police chief and managed a police department, bringing firsthand leadership experience to this role. Unlike my opponents, I am committed to a transformative approach to law enforcement that deeply integrates community engagement and mental health support with proactive crime prevention strategies. My comprehensive training programs will focus on de-escalation techniques, mental health awareness, and enhancing community relations, equipping our officers to handle complex situations with compassion and efficiency. 

Additionally, I plan to significantly enhance the transparency of our department by leveraging advanced technology to improve efficiency. This will involve modernizing our systems to ensure that the community has easy access to pertinent information and can actively participate in governance by holding us accountable. Having worked my way to the top of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, I understand the critical importance of transparency and community trust in law enforcement. 

Non-partisan candidate

Pamela D. Marshall-Koons

Age: 62

Occupation: Executive Director at The WELLness Network and corporate strategist, author/speaker

Previous experience in elected office:

This will be my first elected position.

Public service other than elected office:

As Chief of Staff for the Shelby County Mayor, I helped to oversee a $1.2 billion budget and all departments in county government, including the Sheriff’s Department and the Jail.

Produced “Global Leadership Event,” featuring Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, to honor Federal Express founder, Fred Smith

Violence Prevention Leader: Saved the Alachua County Green Dot Ending Violence program with a national recognized event by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Crisis Management: Awarded by the Federal Highway Administration for work during one of the nation’s first workplace mass shootings at the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

For more than 40 years, I have worked with families and children as a mentor and mindfulness coach.

• Commissioner, Tennessee Civil Service Board
• Reelfoot Girl Scout Council
• Jackson Symphony
• Memphis In May Festival
• Memphis Urban Design Center Mississippi River Corridor Rural Health Association of Tennessee
• Chair of the annual conference committee, Rural Health Association of Tennessee
• The Wesley Foundation (The United Methodist Churches)
• Chair, Legislative Committee for the Tobacco Settlement for Tennessee
• Secured $40 million to keep University of Tennessee Teaching Hospital open
• Chair “Get Out The Vote” Campaign
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)- Jackson, Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee, and Gainesville, Florida
• Memphis Child Advocacy Center National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Southeast Regional Directors Institute
• Author & minister: The Art of Forgiveness: An Expression of Peace, and leads a Forgiveness Ministry helping children and families.

What prompted you to run for election?

As Chief of Staff, while reviewing the Sheriff’s Department budget, I questioned the high spending on medication and learned that most inmates had mental illnesses. This practice, dating back over 50 years, sparked a lasting desire in me to help. Also, inspired by 1850s war nurse, Dorothea Dix, who advocated for mental health hospitals.

Research shows that 99% of the recidivism rate is because of mental illness. With my proven public policy background, we will work toward fixing this public policy failure while making safety a priority in our homes, on the streets and for our deputies.

What two things would you prioritize as Alachua County Sheriff?

Family engagement and trust building in the community.

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 ACSO.

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.

What would you do differently than your opponents?

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’s 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.