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The race for Pinellas County sheriff now includes four candidates, including union leader Jack Soule.
By LEANORA MINAI
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 12, 2000
ST. PETERSBURG -- The union president who represents Pinellas County sheriff's deputies will challenge incumbent Sheriff Everett Rice this fall.
Jack Soule, also a patrol officer with the St. Petersburg Police Department, said he filed papers Tuesday with the supervisor of elections and will face Rice in the Republican primary Sept. 5.
Soule, a 23-year St. Petersburg officer, received approval from St. Petersburg police Chief Goliath Davis III on Tuesday to take a two-month leave of absence to campaign.
"This is going to be a grass-roots effort," said Soule, 46. "I'm going to be walking door to door. Whatever it takes."
The countywide race already includes Republican Tom McKeon, who last fall lost the closest County Commission race in 18 years, and radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge Clem, host of WXTB-FM 97.9's morning show. Clem has no party affiliation.
Soule, who has not run for or held public office, said he hopes his connections in the law enforcement community help his election bid. In his role as police union president, Soule has repeatedly criticized management of his own department, most recently under Davis.
As president of the Pinellas County Police Benevolent Association, Soule represents about 1,250 officers from at least 10 police agencies stretching from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg.
Most of the members are St. Petersburg police officers and Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies, though the union does not bargain for deputy salaries.
Soule said he was approached to run for sheriff by associates -- whom he declined to name -- in the last several weeks. At first, he declined the suggestions after talking with his family.
But Soule said he decided to go for it last week after he and the PBA's 24 board of directors screened the three sheriff candidates to pick whom to endorse.
"At the end of the screening, we couldn't decide on an endorsement," Soule said Tuesday. "There was a lot of debate as to the viability of the candidates. There was no support for the incumbent."
Rice, a Republican, could not be reached for comment late Tuesday. He is serving the 12th year of his third term. The sheriff serves a four-year term and earns an annual salary of $128,507.
Soule said Rice has become "detached" from rank-and-file sheriff's employees. If elected, Soule said he would be "hands on."
"I bring a fresh perspective to the table," Soule said.
Soule said he will rent space for his campaign in the headquarters of the Pinellas County Police Benevolent Association at 14450 46th St. N in Clearwater. He also will ask the PBA for its endorsement.
Soule picked 28-year-old Dean Rivett as his campaign manager. Rivett, a private investigator from Lutz, is helping Adam Sandler with his bid for public defender in Tampa. Rivett also is campaign manager for Clem, who said late Tuesday he is still in the race.
"I know it's something different, but I'm not a professional politician," Soule said. "I'm just a regular everyday guy who happens to be a law enforcement officer."
- Staff writer Edie Gross contributed to this report.