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Atlantic Beach Police Chief Michelle Cook Runs For Clay Sheriff

Photo of Atlantic Beach Police Chief Michelle cook
Altantic Beach Police Department
Atlantic Beach Police Chief Michelle cook

Atlantic Beach Police Chief Michelle Cook has joined a crowded field looking to become Clay County’s next sheriff.

Cook, a Republican, signed paperwork Wednesday to run,according to the Clay County Supervisor of Elections website.

Embattled incumbent Republican Sheriff Darryl Daniels is facing a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation surrounding an extramarital affair with a subordinate officer when he worked at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

As of Thursday afternoon, Daniels had not filed to run for re-election or announced whether he will pursue a second term.

Other Candidates Running For Clay County Sheriff

Cook will be facing off against other law enforcement veterans, including Republican Ben Carroll, who is a retired emergency management specialist/SWAT team member at the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, according to his Facebook page.

Former FDLE agent Mike Taylor, also a Republican, is running again following a failed run for sheriff in 2008.

Republican Harold Rutledge is a former Clay County commissioner who also has a long history in the criminal justice field.

Retired Navy Chief Catherine Webb is also running as a Republican.

Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.

Bill joined WJCT News in September of 2017 from The Florida Times-Union, where he served in a variety of multimedia journalism positions.