Sheriff’s race for 2024 is heating up

As the 2024 political season approaches, Jackson County is seeing candidates popping up as early as a year from the primary date of August 20, 2024 and general election date November 5, 2024.
The Times will be previewing the challengers for each office who have registered with the Jackson County Supervisor of Elections as of this week. We will start with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office this week and continue with three county commission seats, two school board seats, property appraiser, clerk of the court, tax collector, and supervisor of elections. Incumbents will not be covered as their record speaks for itself.
Chris Brannon has qualified as a Republican in his quest to be elected sheriff of Jackson County. He is a native of Jackson County, born in Marianna and graduated from Cottondale High School in 1988. He received a Bachelor of Science in business management in 1993 from Troy State University.
He has served the State of Florida for almost 29 years with the Florida Department of Corrections, currently serving as the Director of Institutional Operations. His duties include providing oversight and direction to all program areas impacting operations within the 49 correctional facilities across the state. He has extensive leadership experience at the local and executive level to include budget analysis and management, policy development, security enhancements, all of which directly impact public safety. He is a member of the Florida Sheriff’s Association and the American Correctional Association. He is married to Nichole Brannon and they have three children.
Lee Keith has qualified as an Independent to run for sheriff of Jackson County. Keith has almost 30 years of serving citizens and protecting communities. Keith is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He believes in putting the needs of Jackson County citizens and communities first. Keith has worked as a patrol officer, corporal, sergeant, investigator, lieutenant, captain and director of law enforcement. He is married to Reese McDaniel Keith.
Jeffrey O’Pry has qualified to seek the office of sheriff of Jackson County as a Republican. O’Pry has 20 years of actual street level law enforcement experience. He is a law enforcement instructor, defensive tactics instructor, vehicle operations instructor, taser instructor, and Simunition instructor. He is a conservative and is passionate about law enforcement in Jackson County. He is concerned about the increase in the sheriff’s department budget. O’Pry is married to Beverly Michelle O’Pry.