Bill Patterson, Republican Party Candidate For Sheriff of Okaloosa County
SERVE, PROTECT, DEFEND
In 2008, Bill Patterson was the Only Candidate to Meet Petition Requirements For Sheriff in Okaloosa County Republican Primary
August 26, 2009
In a press release issued by Bill Patterson for Sheriff in June of 2008, Bill Patterson, stated
“Change in Okaloosa County Sheriff’s department is long overdue.
Together, we will make Okaloosa County better.”
And now, the rest is documented history. Today, Bill Patterson announced his intention to run for Sheriff for Okaloosa County in the 2010 Election cycle.
Patterson continued, “The voters must realize the importance of this Election,” stated Patterson. “We need change in our county Sheriff’s Department, we need leadership …“
In that Election year, Bill Patterson of Fort Walton Beach was the only candidate running for Okaloosa County Sheriff that had successfully submitted (the more than) 1,200 signed petitions that were required to place a name on the 2008 Republican Primary ballot. In addition, over 300 letters of recommendation were sent to the office of Governor Chris in support Bill Patterson as the interim sheriff. Bill’s closest rival received only sixteen (16) letters of recommendation.
Currently, the Sheriff’s department has been clouded by scandal and disgraced by its former Sheriff. We need the kind of leadership and experience that Bill Patterson promised during his campaign in 2008. We need the leadership and strength that Bill Patterson can deliver.
“Thus, as the only candidate to qualify with the support of the people and from my position in second place at the end of the 2008 campaign, I am ready to step up and accept the challenge of serving the people of Okaloosa County … not only putting this disgraceful past behind us, but leading our Sheriff’s department to a new level of hope and a stronger conviction toward lawfulness, fairness, and justice in Okaloosa County,” Patterson continued.
Bill Patterson has a military background, including Administrative Superintendent at 834th Security Police Squadron, Hurlburt Field, and Superintendent of Wing Plans at both Pope Air Force Base and Clark Air Base. Patterson holds a degree in law enforcement. He has completed both the Florida Law Enforcement Police Standards and Florida Law Enforcement Corrections Standards. He has previously served in elected office on the Fort Walton Beach City Council, Seat #2 from 2003 – 2007 and was Mayor Pro-Tiem during that time.
Since running for Sheriff and placing second, Bill Patterson ran successfully for the Fort Walton Beach City Council and is currently serving in that capacity.
Bill Patterson’s platform includes the key points outlined in the Patterson Pledge to the voters of Okaloosa County, found at BillPattersonForSheriff.com:
As Your Sheriff, I will
• Re-establish the people’s respect for their Sheriff’s department
• Institute Budget Restraint within the Sheriff’s Department
• Enforce the US constitution and local laws as they pertain to illegal aliens
• Institute “Tougher Drug Law Enforcement”
• Make “Safer Neighborhoods” my priority
Bill Patterson’s promise includes, “visibility, strength of character, and a demonstration of leadership skills, in order to earn the confidence of the people of Okaloosa County.”
More About Bill Patterson For Sheriff can be found at www.BillPattersonForSheriff.com.
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