Bunnell, FL – Flagler County’s Sheriff will be back on the ballot in 2016.
Jim Manfre announced on Thursday that he filed paperwork with the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections to launch his re-election campaign.
Manfre becomes the only Democrat vying for the job against 6 other Republicans, including former Flagler County Sheriff Don Fleming. Manfre beat Fleming in 2012.
Also in the mix is former FCSO Undersheriff Rick Staly. He was Manfre’s second-in-command until he retired last April.
Manfre – who also served as Flagler County’s Sheriff from 2001 to 2005 – said in his announcement that he’s returned the law enforcement agency to “high ethical standards” as well as “community-oriented policing” and a “business approach” to the budget since taking over for Fleming.
“Although I am very pleased that our hard work – coupled with great community support – has allowed Flagler County to once again enjoy a drop in the most violent crimes, our work is far from over,” Manfre stated. “We must continue to work collaboratively to keep Flagler County safe and secure.”
The overall crime rate has dropped in Flagler by 6.2% from 2013 to 2014, giving it the lowest crime rate of all of the surrounding counties over the past 2 years, according to the most recent yearly Uniform Crime Report by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Manfre also took credit for FCSO getting more de-escalation/crisis intervention training and more body cameras for its deputies, something he says has made things safer for everyone involved.
“Since 2013, we have purchased 79 body-worn cameras and are in the process of obtaining 52 more,” Manfre noted. “These cameras have already changed the way we operate and have lowered our use of force and injuries. They have also, for the most part, changed the attitudes of the citizens we encounter.”
Manfre also touted the recently completed FCSO Operations Center – a 35,000 square-foot building that will house most of the agency’s workers – and the building of a new Flagler County Jail as successful benchmarks of his tenure. That new jail will increase inmate space from 132 to 402 once construction is finished.
“For the operations center, we were able to reduce costs from $4.6 to $4.4 million while adding almost 11,000 square feet,” Manfre added. “For the jail, costs were reduced from the estimated $20 million to $17.9 million.”
Manfre was found guilty by the Florida Commission on Ethics last July of violating state law by using an FCSO credit card for personal purchases, driving an FCSO vehicle out-of-state for personal reasons and accepting a time-share gift without reporting it.
While he is appealing that ruling and insists he broke no law or internal FCSO policy or practice in place at the time, Manfre did admit again on Thursday that he could have made “better choices”.
“I am very sorry and apologize for the distractions this has caused to the community and the Sheriff’s Office,” Manfre said. “I only acted in accordance with the established practices and procedures that were in place when I took office. I am an honest and sincere man.”
Manfre laid much of the blame on prior practices when Fleming was Flagler County’s Sheriff and also said that Staly – who was Undersheriff at the time – was someone he relied on for advice when the allegations first came to light.
Manfre initially agreed to a settlement back in December which would’ve seen him pay a $1,500 fine and reimburse FCSO for taking one of its vehicles to Tennessee, but it was rejected by the FCOE by an 8-1 vote.
Jim Manfre (photo courtesy FCSO)
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.