ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The five constitutional officers of St. Johns County were administered their oath of office Tuesday in a brief ceremony with County Judge Charles Tinlin.
The five, Tax Collector Dennis Hollingsworth, Clerk of Court Cheryl Strickland, Property Appraiser Sharon Outland, Sheriff David Shoar and Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes, all were re-elected without opposition.
Recommended Videos
Hollingsworth is the senior constitutional officer, having served in that position since 1984. He has run unopposed since the 1988 election. He began in that office as a field inspector and title clerk in 1978. The office collects taxes and non-ad valorem assessments for 14 taxing authorities as well as handles tourist development tax collection, beach pass sales, hunting and fishing licenses, child safety restraint inspections, vehicle tag and title registration, and driver's licenses.
Strickland and Outland were each elected to their respective offices during the 1996 election. Strickland began with the Clerk of the Court as a criminal court clerk in 1983. She received Supreme Court certification in 1999 after completing 240 hours of training. She also began the Teen Court Program in St. Johns County to help first time youth offenders from becoming career criminals.
Outland started in the Property Appraiser's Office in 1979, and after serving in every component of the office was elected Property Appraiser in 1996. She has held the office of President of the Florida Association of Property Appraisers and various offices in the Property Appraisers' Association of Florida. She has also served on the Auditor General's Task Force and has served as a member of the Property Tax Administration Task Force since its inception in 1999.
Shoar was elected St. Johns County Sheriff in 2004 and was unopposed in the past two elections. He was also the St. Augustine Police Chief from 2000-04 and has been a law enforcement officer since 1981. Shoar served 24 years in the Florida Army National Guard and has received numerous military and civilian awards. Shoar served as Chairman of the Florida Sheriff's Association in 2011 and was most recently elected as Treasurer for the Association this past year.
Oakes was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott on Sept. 6, 2011. She ran unopposed and was elected this past year to a four-year term. Prior to the appointment, Oakes served for 23 years as the assistant supervisor of elections of St. Johns County. She is a member of the Election Center National Association of Election Officials and a member of the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections.