GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Mike Taylor launched his campaign for Clay County Sheriff on Aug. 1, and his campaign started with an endorsement from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

He pledged to put more deputies on the road by reducing the agency’s “top-heavy” administrative staff.

Taylor has an extensive career in law enforcement, beginning as a Deputy Sheriff in Polk County. During his 8.5 years in Polk, he served as a patrol deputy, traffic homicide investigator and a detective in property crimes, robbery, sex crimes, street level-drugs, mid-level drugs and organized crime.

In 1997, he became an FDLE Special Agent. He was chosen to serve on the elite Governor’s Protection detail, where he served as lead agent during the administrations of Lawton Chiles, Buddy McKay and Jeb Bush. In addition, he trained the Lieutenant Governor’s Protection Detail for Lt. Governor Frank Brogan.

Taylor was selected for a position at the FDLE Miami Regional Operations Center in 1999. There, he coordinated multi-jurisdictional racketeering investigations targeting Miami gangs, as well as major drug and money laundering investigations.

In 2002, he was promoted to Special Agent Supervisor at FDLE Jacksonville’s Regional Operations Center, where he supervised the white-collar crime squad, the major drug and money laundering squad, the Homeland Security and Mutual Aid Squad, including statewide initiatives for prescription pill diversion, drug interdiction programs, and more. His role included responsibility for funding from Homeland Security of more than $25 million for special response teams across Florida.

In 2009, Taylor became a State Attorney Investigator for the Seventh Judicial Circuit, assigned to special prosecutions involving public corruption, financial crimes, and racketeering. Taylor currently serves as the Deputy Chief Investigator supervising 20 investigators in four counties, including administrative responsibility for grants, training and case management.

Taylor is the third candidate to file his candidacy with the supervisor of elections office, joining Harold Rutledge and Ben Carroll. All will be seeking to replace current sheriff Darryl Daniels, who’s yet to officially join the race.

Taylor is a graduate of Saint Leo University where he earned a degree in Criminology. He is an active member of his church and volunteers with Boy Scouts, youth athletic programs and hurricane relief efforts in the community.

He and his wife, Tari, have four children and six grandchildren, and they have operated a family owned real estate practice in Clay County for nearly two decades.