Update: Friday, April 3, 9:10 a.m.:
A cross-party endorsement in the Jacksonville Sheriff race is coming as a shock to the local GOP.
The chairman of the Duval County Republican Party is decrying an endorsement of Democrat Ken Jefferson by Republican former candidate Jimmy Holderfield.
Holderfield, a retired JSO Officer with 33 years on the force, announced his support for Jefferson yesterday, saying he was faced with a tough decision but decided it was best to cross party lines.
The other candidate facing Jefferson is Republican Mike Williams.
In an e-mail statement, GOP Chairman Robin Lumb calls Holderfield’s across-the-aisle endorsement profoundly disappointing. Lumb also says Holderfield is breaking a signed loyalty oath not to endorse a candidate of any party besides Republican.
Meanwhile, Williams has attracted the endorsement of a fellow Republican, former sheriff candidate Jay Farhat.
Original post below:
Democratic candidate for Jacksonville Sheriff Ken Jefferson got a boost today from former Republican sheriff candidate Jimmy Holderfield.
The surprise cross-party endorsement was announced today in a press conference at Memorial Park in Riverside.
Holderfield says he knows both of the remaining candidates personally. Jefferson will face Republican Mike Williams in the May runoff.
"I am left faced with the fact that the right path isn’t always the easiest one," Holderfield said. "That’s why I’m reaching across party lines and I’m supporting Ken Jefferson to serve as Jacksonville’s next sheriff."
Holderfield says Jefferson is the best candidate to unify a splintered sheriff’s department plagued by low morale and reestablish public trust with the agency.
Holderfield got 20 percent of the vote in last month’s unitary election — coming within two percentage points of second-place finisher Williams.
Holderfield retired from his post as Director of JSO’s Department of Corrections in 2013. He spent 33 years with the agency.
