Broward Sheriff Greg Tony's 2020 election advantage

The Coronavirus pandemic is the talk of the world, Florida, and Broward County.

Broward County is ground zero (614 cases to date) for the outbreak in Florida, and while most Floridians have put themselves in a self-quarantine lockdown, local law enforcement and fire departments are still responding to calls.

Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony’s office is busy patrolling Port Everglades and other unincorporated areas of the county, so would you believe that the good sheriff has also found time to campaign for his 2020 election?

Well, to be perfectly honest and transparent, no one is campaigning due to the virus. Candidates like Tony can only promote themselves via the internet or mail.

Since the beginning of March (When the pandemic began to hit the U.S.), Tony’s official office has blanketed the county with two glossy mailers promoting diversified hirings and promotions within his office, as well as his “committed” effort “to building trust with” residents of Broward County.

There is nothing wrong with these mailers. Every statewide or district-wide elected official, including U.S. Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Ted Deutch put these out, but some of Tony’s critics will say that the taxpayer-funded mailings were sent out to exploit the Coronavirus pandemic.

Tony isn’t promoting his campaign directly, but the mailings do help bring much-needed name recognition and awareness for his efforts to Broward residents.

This is a huge advantage that Tony has over his Democratic primary opponents.

This is how politics works, and over the course of political history, this has been the case for just about all elected officials.

Elected officials have to use their bully pulpit to forward their candidacies and campaign by not campaigning.

Tony, a Democrat, and a Gov. Ron DeSantis appointee is expected to win his primary race against disgraced former Broward Sheriff Scott Israel and a small group of candidates that have not been able to garner any significant traction.