The Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) announced its endorsement of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier for a full term while members spoke at the association's annual summer conference in Doral this week.
"The state of Florida has been blessed throughout the years to have attorney generals to the level in which we've had, and General Uthmeier is no exception," Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said. "He has stepped to the plate and the role. He prosecutes where it needs to be. He stands behind his sheriffs. He stands behind law enforcement. He believes in putting the bad guys in jail and holding them accountable."
Uthmeier was appointed attorney general by Gov. Ron DeSantis in February 2025.
"Although it's been a short period of time, he and I have become friends. I've come to greatly respect him, and I'm here to tell you what makes state of Florida successful in our judicial system is the partnerships in which we have," Woods continued. "Those partnerships start with us in law enforcement. It goes to our prosecutors. It goes to our judges. But it doesn't just stop there. It goes all the way to our attorney general."
Sheriff Woods was joined by several other sheriffs endorsing Attorney General Uthmeier, including Duval County Sheriff T.K. Waters, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Founded in 1893, the FSA represents Florida's 67 elected sheriffs across its 67 counties with a goal of protecting Florida citizens and visitors through training and public safety legislation.
"There was no doubt in my mind that James Uthmeier is simply the very best for the job," Judd said regarding his appointment. "I made that not on politics, but on action, on accountability."
Attorney General Uthmeier thanked the FSA for its endorsement.
"Your support, your endorsements are very meaningful to me," Uthmeier said. "We are blessed in Florida to have the greatest sheriffs in the entire country, and it is no surprise because of who these men and women are because of their mission and their ability to execute in crime fighting - we have the lowest crime rates we've ever had here in the state of Florida."
