×
×
homepage logo
STORE

Incumbent Scott secures his fourth term as sheriff of Lee County

By Staff | Nov 16, 2016

Just as he had done in the last two elections, Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott cruised to his fourth consecutive term in office in a landslide decision by county voters on Tuesday.

Scott won the voting by a 3-to-1 margin, garnering 75 percent of the votes cast to just 25 percent for challenger James Didio. More than 78 percent of all registered voters in Lee County cast their ballots on Tuesday, by voting early or with mail-in ballots.

Scott drew 230,296 total votes in the county’s 127 precincts while Didio had 77,561.

“To the voters, thank you, obviously,” said Scott. “It’s a privilege and honor to serve them that I do not take lightly. I certainly did not expect a percentage in the 70s. That is a clear mandate from the people and if you look up and down all the races from President on down, you won’t find another candidate that got the number of votes I got.”

Scott, 53, has been with the LCSO for 28 years. The Republican won his fourth full term as sheriff, having won full terms in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Scott ran on his record and believes that in today’s world with greater threats on law enforcement his experience gives the community the necessary consistency and continuity of established relationships with other state, federal and local law enforcement agencies as well as the FBI.

Scott faces tough challenges in his fourth term over and above the recent rise in violent attacks on law enforcement. Attacks by lone shooters are difficult to predict and prevent, but presents a great challenge for officers.

“These campaigns are a distraction, so I’m excited to get back to my routine,” Scott said. “I’m happy and excited and looking forward to moving on for another four years.”

The LCSO employs about 1,600 active officers plus more than 300 volunteers in uniform. Scott is proud of negotiating the department through the toughest of recent economic times while maintaining a high level of service.

LCSO also runs the Lee County Jail with about 2,000 inmates. It’s an enormous operation that consumes about half of the department’s annual budget of more than $166 million.

Scott is a native of Lee County, having graduated from North Fort Myers High School and then-Edison Community College and still resides in North Fort Myers.

“I made some controversial endorsements for school board in Jane Kuckel and Cathleen Morgan,” said Scott. “Those are significant challenges. I’d like to work with the school board to get a law enforcement presence in the elementary and even middle schools. I think it’s important because kids that age are very impressionable. It’s right to get the message out about no bullying and no gangs. It will make for better relationships with them, but it comes with a price tag.”

Didio, running with no party affiliation, served under Scott at LCSO for a time and after owning his own auto repair business decided to get back into law enforcement with the Sanibel Police Department.

The Fort Myers resident decided to test the political side of law enforcement by announcing his run for sheriff in 2014.

Incumbent Scott secures his fourth term as sheriff of Lee County

By Staff | Nov 16, 2016

Just as he had done in the last two elections, Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott cruised to his fourth consecutive term in office in a landslide decision by county voters on Tuesday.

Scott won the voting by a 3-to-1 margin, garnering 75 percent of the votes cast to just 25 percent for challenger James Didio. More than 78 percent of all registered voters in Lee County cast their ballots on Tuesday, by voting early or with mail-in ballots.

Scott drew 230,296 total votes in the county’s 127 precincts while Didio had 77,561.

“To the voters, thank you, obviously,” said Scott. “It’s a privilege and honor to serve them that I do not take lightly. I certainly did not expect a percentage in the 70s. That is a clear mandate from the people and if you look up and down all the races from President on down, you won’t find another candidate that got the number of votes I got.”

Scott, 53, has been with the LCSO for 28 years. The Republican won his fourth full term as sheriff, having won full terms in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Scott ran on his record and believes that in today’s world with greater threats on law enforcement his experience gives the community the necessary consistency and continuity of established relationships with other state, federal and local law enforcement agencies as well as the FBI.

Scott faces tough challenges in his fourth term over and above the recent rise in violent attacks on law enforcement. Attacks by lone shooters are difficult to predict and prevent, but presents a great challenge for officers.

“These campaigns are a distraction, so I’m excited to get back to my routine,” Scott said. “I’m happy and excited and looking forward to moving on for another four years.”

The LCSO employs about 1,600 active officers plus more than 300 volunteers in uniform. Scott is proud of negotiating the department through the toughest of recent economic times while maintaining a high level of service.

LCSO also runs the Lee County Jail with about 2,000 inmates. It’s an enormous operation that consumes about half of the department’s annual budget of more than $166 million.

Scott is a native of Lee County, having graduated from North Fort Myers High School and then-Edison Community College and still resides in North Fort Myers.

“I made some controversial endorsements for school board in Jane Kuckel and Cathleen Morgan,” said Scott. “Those are significant challenges. I’d like to work with the school board to get a law enforcement presence in the elementary and even middle schools. I think it’s important because kids that age are very impressionable. It’s right to get the message out about no bullying and no gangs. It will make for better relationships with them, but it comes with a price tag.”

Didio, running with no party affiliation, served under Scott at LCSO for a time and after owning his own auto repair business decided to get back into law enforcement with the Sanibel Police Department.

The Fort Myers resident decided to test the political side of law enforcement by announcing his run for sheriff in 2014.