Candidate: Darby Butler

I am a lifelong resident (50 years) of Dixie County, 6th generation Butler, and 3rd generation law enforcement. I am the son of the late Wayne and Flo Butler and grandson of the late Blaine and Eneal Butler of Horseshoe Beach, Florida. I am married to Lola Sikes Butler and we have two daughters, Jordan and Maddie.

I am a 1991 graduate of Dixie County High School, a 1993 graduate of Santa Fe College, and a 1995 graduate of Lake City Community College. In 2002, I graduated from the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy and was recognized as “Top Gun” of my class.

I first began my law enforcement career in 1994, working as a Correctional Officer with the Florida Department of Corrections, and was later promoted to Sergeant in 1997. In 2001, I decided to expand my law enforcement career and after completing the rigorous training at the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy in 2002, I began serving as a State Law Enforcement Officer for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in Dixie County. In 2020, I was elected to serve as Sheriff of Dixie County. I am a 2020 graduate of the Florida Sheriffs Institute Sheriffs Academy.

Since taking office as Sheriff on January 5, 2021, I have worked diligently to implement the changes I vowed to make in 2020; and I will continue to work hard for the citizens of Dixie County to ensure our community is a safe place to work, live, and raise a family.

Re-Electing me as your Sheriff means electing a Proven, Qualified, Dedicated, and Dependable Leader.

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I would like to announce my candidacy for reelection as Sheriff of Dixie County.

The support I have received in anticipation of this announcement has truly been overwhelming. Serving as your Sheriff has been a privilege beyond compare. The ability to lead the professional men and women who work tirelessly to protect our community has and will continue to be the honor of my life.

In just a few short years, we have transitioned the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office into a 21st Century law enforcement agency with a renewed focus on public safety, customer service, employee care, and efficiency.

When I took office as Sheriff of Dixie County in January of 2021, I tasked our members with developing new and innovative approaches to the law enforcement services we provide.

Through the combined efforts of the agency members and leaders along with our community partners, we have accomplished countless initiatives and modernized our approach to crime fighting. These have included improvements in law enforcement and corrections, as well as innovative ways to improve employee wellbeing.

Even with all of the changes that we have made this far, I still have a lot to accomplish as your Sheriff. Together, with your support, we can continue to make the changes to ensure Dixie County is a safe place to live, work, and raise our families.

Sincerely,

Darby Butler, Sheriff