The men who would be sheriff

Now, for some good news.

The three challengers running to replace Sheriff Mike Prendergast — Calvin Adams Jr., Doug Alexander, and Dave Vincent — are locked in.

About 100 people attended the Citrus Trump Club 47 town hall Tuesday night to hear from the sheriff’s candidates.​

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One candidate was conspicuously missing. That would be the incumbent who, as we’ve pointed out, is running an anti-Citrus County campaign, and therefore doesn’t go anywhere he’s not adored.

(If you haven't yet, make sure to read Michelle Lahera’s heart-wrenching nightmare of dealing with Prendergast in the 12 months following husband Andy’s tragic accident.)

We have pointed out the numerous public failings of Sheriff Prendergast. It’s especially not lost on this Trump group, where Prendergast enjoyed total support until he bragged last year about helping the FBI arrest one of their Jan. 6 heroes.

The differences between Adams/Alexander/Vincent and Prendergast are enormous. The challengers are focused on accountability to taxpayers, better public communication (as of now, it’s zilch), and an emphasis on community involvement. Prendergast focuses on none of that.

From Tuesday night, here’s how I see all three:

— Dave Vincent just walks, talks, and acts like a sheriff. His experience is unmatched — Dave has more sheriff’s office experience than the incumbent. He is even keeled. Not exactly a quote machine, which means he doesn't draw unnecessary attention to himself.

Dave set out a vision based on his years of experience with the sheriff’s office and chief of the school district’s police department. He deftly handled questions about budgets, sheriff’s volunteers, and whether the sheriff should take over the jail.

Without a doubt, Dave Vincent was the most sheriff-sounding person in the room. He clearly is well prepared for campaigning, and for the job. The more I hear from Dave, the more impressed I am.

— Doug Alexander is rather blunt about his approach: community leadership.

“What the sheriff’s office needs is a good leader,” he said. He’s correct.

Doug is a former sheriff’s deputy and school resource officer. That’s not his strength in this race. My gosh, is there a bigger name in Citrus County for getting things done? He’s worked with the under-served, the disadvantaged, the homeless. He’s fed hungry residents. Doug has led relief efforts to hurricane-ravaged communities.

Politicians can’t say no to him. He has that…something we all want in a leader. Doug always seems to know what to do. Nothing rattles the guy.

Also, and this cannot be overstated: Doug encouraged voters to steer from Prendergast.

“Whatever you do, please put one of these candidates in office,” he said.

— First off, thank God that Calvin Adams is OK. He walked the audience through his May 3 accident at Sims Furniture Store in Lecanto, said it was a medical emergency with his heart rate and has been given a pacemaker.

If it slowed down Calvin the candidate, he isn’t showing it. Calvin was the bluntest in his criticism of the absent incumbent.

“That should be emblazoned in your mind,” he said of the no-show. “That is a disgrace. A flat-out disgrace.”

Calvin is more than just a thorn in Prendergast’s side. He has years of leadership of a state law enforcement agency and knows his way around a big budget. Plus, way before the 2024 election cycle, Calvin regularly requested public records in an attempt to learn how the Citrus County sheriff was spending his office money.

He supports much more open communication with the public especially in matters affecting their neighborhoods. That the sheriff can go hours, or even days, before posting information about criminal activity in a community is nonsense.

All three of these candidates have so much to offer. Please, take a look at their websites and Facebook pages. Ask friends and co-workers about them.

— The Beverly Hills Civic Association has a forum for all local candidates from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the community center on Civic Circle. I'm hoping everyone shows up.

Especially Prendergast. Some voters may have questions.

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