In what could be one of this year’s highest-profile legislative primary elections, former St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar has opened a campaign account to run for a seat that will be vacated by Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, who is term-limited.
Shoar, a Republican, opened the account Friday, according to the state Division of Elections website.
House Appropriations Chairman Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, also is running for the Senate District 7 seat and has gained support from Republican leaders, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and incoming Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula.
The district is made up of St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler and part of Volusia counties.
Shoar was first elected St. Johns County sheriff in 2004 and served until 2020. He joined the law firm Woolsey Morcom in 2023 as director of investigations, according to the firm’s website.
Candidates will formally qualify this week for legislative races. Other candidates with open accounts in Senate District 7 are Republican Gerry James, Democrat George Anthony Hill II and unaffiliated candidate Michael Levone Gist. Primary elections will be held Aug. 20.
The online site Florida’s Voice first reported Shoar’s candidacy last week.