Lonnie McDonald

Candidate for Jacksonville sheriff

Party:  Republican

Age:  57

Family:  I am the proud father of three amazing children and an unapologetic doting grandfather. Watching my children grow into caring, responsible and successful adults, and now seeing them with children of their own is by far life's greatest reward. Too many parents have lost children to violence on our streets and have been robbed of this priceless opportunity.

Occupation:  My greatest accomplishment in public life has been serving the citizens of Jacksonville and our great nation as a law enforcement professional for the past 33 years. It has been an honor to help make a positive impact on people's lives. While I have received numerous honors and awards and been recognized by the FBI for outstanding service, individual accomplishments cannot compare to the overall experience of leading through service. After 31.5 years of decorated service with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and working in virtually every division, I retired as an Assistant Chief. I then served two tours in Afghanistan as a law enforcement professional assigned to Task Force Patriot in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While in Afghanistan, I trained senior Afghan police, military personnel and command staff in counterintelligence efforts against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. When I returned to the United States last spring, I knew I still had more to give, and that's why I'm running for Jacksonville Sheriff â€" to continue fighting crime on the home front.

Education:  Secret Service Dignitary Protection Seminar, 2010; FBI National Academy, Quantico 2009;  DEA Drug Unit Commander Training, Quantico 2003; FBI Executive Fellowship Program, FBI HQ Washington, D.C., 1999; Gun Enforcement and Prosecution, Department of Justice; Incident Response to Terrorist Bombing, New Mexico Tech; NFL Security Seminar, Chicago; Florida State University, 1980 B.A. Criminology; Bishop Kenny High School, 1975

Political experience:  I have never run for or held an elected office.

What do you see as the top three issues in this race? 

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  • Building Community Trust - As Sheriff, one of my first goals is to start building trust throughout the entire community. To build this trust, I will lead with transparency by having open, honest and candid conversations about perceptions of our city and law enforcement. This would include elected officials, community leaders, faith-based organizations, business leaders and the media. Additionally, it is just as important for people in our community to identify with the officers that serve our city so the makeup of our police force should reflect the diverse makeup of our city.
  • Agency Reorganization - The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office needs to be a model law enforcement agency that plans for future challenges while operating within present budgetary constraints. This means implementing action plans for reducing redundant personnel, eliminating outdated specialized units, establishing open budget practices, and leveraging federal and state partnerships to utilize shared resources toward the preparation for domestic and foreign threats. As Sheriff, I will conduct a top-down review of the agency to identify unnecessary or unproductive positions, and redirect resources to properly deploy officers where they would be most beneficial with a cost savings to taxpayers. Within the agency, I will work hard to improve morale and increase effectiveness. From my years of service with the Jacksonville Sherif's Office and my recent experience in Afghanistan, I know that Jacksonville must stop the flow of crime within and through Jacksonville by partnering with state and federal authorities. This means breaking down silos, opening lines of communication, and sharing information across agencies. There is a role for all agencies with jurisdictions in Jacksonville. Under my leadership, we will work in collaboration with local, state and federal authorities. 
  • Juvenile Prevention and Intervention Programs - Every time a child enters the juvenile justice system, it means we're failing our children as a society. Children make mistakes, but a first-time offender of a minor offense does not deserve to be incarcerated. With direction and support, these first-time offenders should be given the opportunity to make better choices and become productive citizens instead of being detained. Civil citations are a valuable tool to identify juveniles that may need direction to prevent future offenses. Citations are also fiscally responsible; they reduce housing and processing costs, as well as future costs to the courts related to juvenile recidivism. Active crime prevention programs that involve both law enforcement and community groups have proven to be successful. Jacksonville can be a model city and set the standard for the rest of the country by focusing on juvenile prevention and intervention programs, and fostering trust between law enforcement and the community.

  • Campaign website, other links:  YourJaxSheriff.com | Facebook | @yourjaxsheriff |
    Campaign page and finance reports on DuvalElections.com