Candidate: Ken J. Mascara

Ken J. Mascara has served as Sheriff of St. Lucie County since 2001. He was first elected in November of 2000, then overwhelmingly reelected in 2004, 2008, without opposition in 2012. In 2016, Mascara was reelected to his fifth term with more than 82% of votes cast.

He began his criminal justice career as a St. Lucie county deputy assigned to the county jail in 1976.

Sheriff Mascara leads the more than 700 heroes of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office to protect the safety of county residents through proactive crime fighting techniques and innovative technology and resources, all while working shoulder-to-shoulder with other local, state and federal governmental and law enforcement agencies.

Working cooperatively with the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners, State Attorney, Public Defender, Clerk of Courts, Judges and other officials, Sheriff Mascara has led efforts to improve the efficiency of the local criminal justice system, saving taxpayer dollars.

Throughout his 18-years as Sheriff, major crime has trended downward due to effective crime fighting and community outreach initiatives resulting in reduction of property crimes by almost 30% and violent crimes by over 50%. 

Sheriff Mascara has served on the board of the Florida Sheriff’s Association since 2015 and was appointed chairman of the Florida Sheriff’s Association Risk Management Consortium in 2016. He is also a past commissioner for the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.

Other professional affiliations, recognitions and accomplishments include: the National Sheriffs Association; Hundred Club of St. Lucie County; Chairman, Weed and Seed of St. Lucie County; Treasure Coast Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs Association; Advisory Committee to National Task Force on Community Preparedness and Response; Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #41 Citizen of the Year; recipient of the New Horizon’s of the Treasure Coast 2010 Children's Champion Award; American Legion White City Post #358 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year; graduate of the FBI Federal Executive Development Seminar; and graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute Class #30.