There will be a new Alachua County sheriff in 2025. Incumbent Clovis Watson told Supervisor of Elections Kim Barton this week that he’s withdrawing from next year’s campaign and will return the eight thousand dollars he raised for reelection.
Watson defeated longtime sheriff Sadie Darnell in the 2020 Democratic primary after he was term-limited as a state representative.
His withdrawal letter didn’t include a reason for ending his campaign, just a note of gratitude for the election office’s staff during his time as a candidate.
Watson thanked his employees at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office for their courage and dedicated service in a letter to the staff on Tuesday.
“I want to thank each one of you for the courageous and dedicated service that you provide to our agency and our citizens,” Watson said. “Alachua County is certainly a better place thanks to men and women like each one of you.”