Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers (FCCC) today avowed support to uphold the independent roles of officers created in the Florida Constitution with a member resolution and support for the first proposal considered and approved by the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) Local Government Committee.

FCCC released Resolution 2017-1 publicly acknowledging and reiterating support for constitutional amendments that will ensure citizens are directly represented by the constitutional officers duly elected in each county. The Florida Sheriffs Association has released Resolution 2017-1 proclaiming support for legislation that will permit the citizens of all 67 counties to independently elect their sheriffs.  

Appointed CRC Commissioners Carolyn Timmann, Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court; Chris Nocco, Pasco County Sheriff; and Emery Gainey, Office of the Attorney General Director of Law Enforcement Relations, have introduced CRC Proposal 13 recommending the revision of Sections 1 and 6 of Article VIII of the Florida Constitution to mandate that all constitutionally prescribed county officers (Sheriff, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, and Clerk of Circuit Court) be elected by the voters of that county. The proposal was approved by the Local Government Committee on Nov. 1 and is now before the Ethics and Elections committee.

The 1885 Florida Constitution initially established that constitutional officers are to be elected and that their duties be established in Florida statute. However, with amendments authorizing county charters -- in particular, the enshrinement of home rule authority in 1968 – the duties and method of selection for some officers changed. With every county officer elected, Proposal 13 would reinstate the original checks and balances and restore power to the county’s citizens. Additionally, the proposal will not allow the county to abolish, transfer the duties of, or establish any alternate method of selection for county constitutional officers. The proposal would take effect January 5, 2021 but would govern the elections for county constitutional officers for the 2020 election cycle.