Former St. Johns sheriff throws his hat into Senate District 7 race

David Shoar, the St. Johns County sheriff from 2004 to 2020, enters race that includes Rep. Tom Leek of Ormond Beach.

By The News Service of Florida
| 7:00 a.m. June 11, 2024

Rep. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach. File photo by Colin Hackley, The News Service of Florida

State Government

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 term-limited Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine.

Shoar, a Republican, opened the account Friday, June 7, 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.

The district is made up of St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties and part of Volusia.

Leek has gained support from Republican leaders, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and incoming Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula.

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.