37 Florida Sheriffs Endorse Adam Putnam
Majority of law enforcement leaders rally behind Putnam for Commissioner of Agriculture

BARTOW, Fla. – Demonstrating an overwhelming level of support from Florida’s law enforcement community, 37 Florida sheriffs have offered their official endorsement of Congressman Adam Putnam for Commissioner of Agriculture. With these endorsements, Congressman Putnam has now pulled in the most sheriff endorsements of any statewide candidate in the 2010 election.

“I’m proud to join my colleagues from over half of Florida’s 67 counties, and agencies large and small, who have endorsed Adam Putnam to be our next Commissioner of Agriculture,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “Adam is clearly the most qualified candidate to work with us to protect Florida’s consumers and serve on Florida’s Cabinet. His vision, background and experience are simply unmatched in this race.”Florida’s sheriffs work in coordination with federal, state and local officials to protect the lives and property of the citizens in their individual counties. The Commissioner of Agriculture oversees the Office of Agriculture Law Enforcement and has more than 220 sworn law enforcement officers who operate 23 agricultural interdiction stations across the state.

“I am confident in Adam’s ability to represent the best interests of Florida law enforcement including the Office of Agriculture Law Enforcement within the Department of Agriculture,” said Sumter County Sheriff Bill Farmer. “He will lead a department that we can easily put our trust in, knowing he is there to serve all Floridians.”

“I am privileged to have earned the support of these individuals who are leaders not only in law enforcement, but also in their communities,” Putnam said. “I look forward to a strong partnership with Florida’s law enforcement officials as we work together in protecting consumers, Florida agriculture and the environment.”

Adam Putnam is a Polk County citrus grower and cattleman who has represented the Twelfth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since January 2001. He also served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000. Adam resides in his hometown of Bartow with his wife, Melissa, and their four children.

Sheriffs endorsing Adam Putnam for Commissioner of Agriculture include:

Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith
Brevard County Sheriff Jack Parker
Calhoun County Sheriff David Tatum
Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Cameron
Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler
Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk
DeSoto County Sheriff William Wise
Duval County Sheriff John Rutherford
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan
Flagler County Sheriff Donald Fleming
Gilchrist County Sheriff Daniel Slaughter
Hardee County Sheriff Arnold Lanier
Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent
Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton
Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee
Holmes County Sheriff Tim Brown
Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar
Lake County Sheriff Gary Borders
Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott
Levy County Sheriff Johnny Smith
Manatee County Sheriff Brad Steube
Martin County Sheriff Robert Crowder
Nassau County Sheriff Tommy Seagraves
Okeechobee County Sheriff Paul May
Osceola County Sheriff Bob Hansell
Pasco County Sheriff Bob White
Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall
Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight
Seminole County Sheriff Donald Eslinger
St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar
Sumter County Sheriff Bill Farmer
Union County Sheriff Jerry Whitehead
Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson
Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson