Jacksonville FL — Tuesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced he will appoint sheriff-elect Michelle Cook as sheriff in Clay County. We reported last month when Cook was elected when the write-in candidate she was going to face off against in November dropped out of the race. The Sheriff’s Office says Cook will finish out the rest of former sheriff Darryl Daniels term and will officially be sworn in for her first term as sheriff this upcoming January.
Cook will be taking over for interim Sheriff Matt Walsh, who was appointed by the governor following the suspension of Daniels when he was charged with tampering with evidence and giving false reports to officers. Previously, Daniels said he’s innocent.
Cook says she looks forward to serving the community.
“Today we are turning a page in the history books of our community and in our agency.” Cook says.
She also says part of being a responsible sheriff is listening to everyone in the community and she plans on doing that.
The governor says, in January, Cook will be the only female sheriff in the state.