Candidate: Craig A. Estep

I grew up in the Midwest in a large family setting.  I married my high school sweetheart in 1976 and we adopted 10 children through international adoption.  We have 28 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

I spent 3 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and another 17 years in the Army National Guard where I flew helicopters.  I worked 20 years in law enforcement, managed a state emergency operations center, performed emergency planning in the nuclear power industry, and was the Director of Disaster Services for the American Red Cross out of San Antonio.  I responded to New York during 9/11 to implement their Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) program when it was passed through emergency legislation.  I finished my working career flying Emergency Medical Services (EMS) helicopters transporting sick and injured people.

Current and past work first term as a Sumter County Commissioner for District 3:

• Board of County Commissioners
  • Chairman 2022, 2023, 2024
  • Canvas Board 2022
• Delivered Sumter County funding requests to the Legislative Delegation of the State of Florida
• Sumter County Transportation Disability Coordinating Board
  • Chairman
• Lake Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization
  • Immediate Past Chairman
• Florida Association of Counties Trust
  • Chairman Claims Committee
  • Trustee
  • Audit/Actuarial Committee
• Central Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Alliance
  • Vice Chairman
• Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council
  • Governing Board
• Florida Association of Counties
  • Board of Directors
  • Finance, Tax and Administration Committee
• Withlacoochee Regional Water Supply Authority
  • Vice Chair
• East Central Florida Regional Planning Council
  • Treasurer

Here are some highlights of training in my first term:

• Certified County Commissioner
• Advanced County Commissioner I
• Advanced County Commissioner II
• FEMA Course G402 – National Incident Management System (NIMS) Overview for Senior Officials (Executives, Elected & Appointed)
• Citizens Academy
• Sheriff’s Academy