CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Michelle Cook, former Atlantic Beach police chief, defeated a field of Republican candidates Tuesday in her bid to become Clay County sheriff. That field included incumbent and suspended Sheriff Darryl Daniels.
Cook was scheduled to face a write-in Republican candidate in November, but Francis Bourrie withdrew from the race Wednesday.
Cook has 28-year career in law enforcement with both the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Atlantic Beach police. She is a native of Green Cove Springs.
Daniels was suspended last week following a lengthy sex scandal investigation that suggested Daniels used resources within the sheriff's office to aid in, and later hide, an affair he was having with an employee.
Daniels' campaign released the following statement regarding Tuesday night's election results:
"These politically motivated charges that have been made against Sheriff Daniels and announced right before the election combined with dirty politics from other campaigns by closing the election through recruiting a write-in candidate resulted in more than 10,000 Clay County voters not casting a vote in the race for Sheriff. This resulted in the electing of a St. Johns County resident to now serve as the likely Sheriff. Sheriff Daniels appreciates the support from the voters of Clay County and is calling for a review of this travesty that was committed on Clay County voters."
Cook's previous roles have included head of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Department of Patrol and Enforcement, director Personnel and Professional Standards, chief of patrol, assistant chief of narcotics and vice, and SWAT intelligence commander before transitioning to the city of Atlantic Beach in 2017, according to her bio.
She also has a master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of North Florida, according to a January article in The Florida Time-Union.
