Published on January 4, 2023 at 10:51 am
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The retired assistant chief who was runner-up in the Nov. 8 runoff for Jacksonville sheriff has filed to run again.
Lakesha Burton, who lost the election to T.K. Waters in November, filed with the Duval County Supervisor of Elections.
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That would pit her and the sheriff in the March 21 primary election, which Burton says would be “crucial.” But so far, she has yet to launch a campaign, she said in a statement to WJCT News.
“It will determine what the next 8 years will be for our city,” she said. “The dismal start to Water’s administration and the significant interest in me as a candidate has me considering my options, but I haven’t made a final decision. I’m taking necessary steps should I decide to run.”
In response to Burton’s filing, Waters issued a statement that said he is “focused on my job as sheriff and keeping the people of Jacksonville safe.”
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“The residents have already let their voices be heard,” he said in a statement News4JAX, a WJCT News partner. “Twice. Resoundingly. We will let the people voice their opinion a third time.”
Waters is a Republican and the retired chief of investigations for the Sheriff’s Office. Burton is a former executive director of the Police Athletic League who retired as assistant chief of the Arlington police zone to enter her candidacy.
Burton and Waters were the front-runners in a five-way special election Aug. 23, called due to the resignation of former Sheriff Mike Williams after he violated city charter by living for more than a year in Nassau County. Williams, who had more than a year left in his term, is now head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Jacksonville operations center.
Waters garnered 46.7% of the special election vote, followed by Burton with 32.8%, beating former Duval County Schools Police acting director Wayne Clark and former officers Tony Cummings and Ken Jefferson. Since neither Burton nor Waters received 50% plus one vote, they headed to the Nov. 8 runoff. Waters earned just over 55% of the vote in the runoff and became sheriff.
Waters is sheriff only through this year. Anyone wishing to run for the next four-year term for sheriff must campaign again for the March 21 primary and May 16 general election.
The winner of the election in the spring will serve a full, four-year term.
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