Sheriff Everett Rice's early resignation means Chief Deputy Jim Coats, who is running to replace Rice, will run the office for now.
By LUCY MORGAN
Published October 29, 2004
TALLAHASSEE - Longtime Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice leaves office today, four days before he joins the Florida House.
Gov. Jeb Bush will appoint Chief Deputy Jim Coats, who is running to replace Rice, as interim sheriff until Nov. 8. Bush will renew the appointment if Coats is elected Tuesday.
Coats is the Republican nominee and widely expected to win. His Democratic opponent is Bubba the Love Sponge Clem, a radio personality whose actions recently led to a $750,000 by the Federal Communications Commission for on-air indecency.
Coats has been in law enforcement for 33 years and was appointed sheriff of Gulf and Santa Rosa after their sheriffs were indicted for criminal conduct.
Rice, also a Republican, is leaving a few days early to allow time for a series of events that must take place before a new sheriff assumes office. His term would not end until January, making it necessary for him to resign early.
An inventory of all assets valued at more than $1,000 is required when a new sheriff takes over and deputies must be sworn in by the new sheriff to ensure law enforcement actions they take comply with the law.
The agency also has to inventory inmates and paperwork at the county jail and change bank accounts and signature cards. And the Pinellas County Commission will have to meet to approve a surety bond for the new sheriff.
Rice was elected to the Legislature without opposition, replacing Rep. Don Sullivan, R-St. Petersburg, who decided not to run. New legislators take office on Election Day, two weeks before they gather in Tallahassee for an organizational session.
Rice, 59, spent more than 37 years in law and law enforcement. He was a longtime deputy in Pinellas County when he went to law school. After practicing law for more than 3 years, he returned in 1988 as sheriff.
