JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sheriff Mike Williams prevailed over his Democratic challenger on election night at a time when polls show voters are most concerned about crime.
With most precincts reporting, Williams had 62% percent of the vote compared to Doctor Tony Cummings’ 38% percent.
Election night results fell in line with a University of North Florida poll that projected Williams earning the support of around 56 percent of voters and his democratic challenger receiving around 33 percent.
The same poll showed crime was on the minds of nearly two-thirds of voters in the run-up to the election.
Statistics released by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office ranked this past January as one of the deadliest in recent years.
The same concern propelled Williams election 4 years ago. Despite only marginal changes in the city’s violent crime rate, the Jacksonville-native’s reelection was never in doubt.
Williams’ opponent failed to amass the financial resources and organization to run a media-centered campaign.
The sheriff will start his second four-year term on July, 1 2019.