Two Weeks Left For School Board and Sheriff Races
Early Voting Starts Today, October 22
The general election is two weeks away, and early voting begins today. There are only two races left to be decided in Clay County. Incumbent Sheriff Michelle Cook faces former Sheriff Darryl Daniels, and Robert Alvero faces James Hughes for the District 2 School Board seat.
Sheriff
According to the most recent data on the Supervisor of Elections website, Sheriff Cook has amassed over $240,000 in campaign donations. This is 10 times the amount her opponent, Darryl Daniels, has raised. It’s also nearly $70 thousand more than she raised in 2020.
Cook also eclipses Daniels in available funds, having roughly $153,000 in remaining un-spent funds, compared to $11,000 for Daniels.
In addition to trailing in funding, Daniels has been curiously absent on the campaign trail. Daniels has made very few public appearances and no posts to social media since July 1, but he popped up on Facebook on October 4 to quote Bible verses and proclaim he wants to unite the entire country by being elected. He also asked people to walk with him in a Green Cove Springs Soul Food Festival parade.
On the other hand, Sheriff Cook has attempted to hold a series of open-to-the-public events, but hurricanes Helene and Milton thwarted several. She has also found time to do a lengthy interview with an obscure podcast called “Moore Lessons.” Last week, Cook found time to speak with a Florida Republican propaganda outlet called “Florida’s Voice News” about non-existent looting in Clay County.
Clay News & Views has repeatedly contacted Cook with a request for an interview, which she declined. Daniels was also contacted, but schedule conflicts prevented the interview from happening.
In 2020, Cook was interviewed by the Clay County Beacon podcast while running in a crowded field of sheriff candidates. You can listen to that interview and many others here.
One of Sheriff Cook’s canceled events included a guest appearance by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. Cook has also had her hands full running the Sheriff’s Office, which took over the safety and security of Clay County schools at the start of this school year.
School Board District 2
Jim Hughes and Robert Alvero are the two remaining contenders for the District Two seat on the Clay County School Board. After a furious primary season, the dust has settled, and the campaigns have continued normally.
Alvero has outpaced Hughes in total funds raised and cash left to spend, with $32,858 and $9,619, respectively. Hughes has amassed $28,500 total and has $7,480 remaining.
Hughes has been scrutinized for the donations he has received from teacher union Political Action Committees (PACs). Recently, $3,500 of his $3,585 donations have been from union PACs.
Alvero has faced criticism for his lack of experience in the school system and perceived struggle in clearly relaying his message when speaking publicly.
Since the primary, Alvero and Hughes have participated in two forums: one at the Clay GOP headquarters and another for the Federated Republican Women of South Clay:
Yesterday, Alvero sent a text message blast highlighting his background as a Cuban immigrant and his opponent’s ties to the teacher’s union:
Hello! I'm Robert Alvero. I am the sole conservative candidate for Clay County School Board. I am a firefighter, State Guardsman, and the only candidate with children in Clay County schools.
The leftist, lockdown teacher's union is running my opponent and for the sake of our kids we cannot let them win. My opponent admittedly wants to raise your taxes. It's already expensive enough to live in this country today. No New Taxes!
I fled Cuba in search of liberty and freedom. What I lived through for 26 years, I am seeing more and more of in our beautiful America. I will stand with President Trump in protecting our kids and their futures. alveroforccsb.com
Hughes has focused on his resume and experience and why he believes he is the best choice for the position.
Early voting starts today and runs through November 2nd. The Supervisor of Elections website lists all available early voting sites:
The article “Two Weeks Left for School Board and Sheriff Races” severely lacks relevant information.
What is the purpose?
• Everyone knows when the general election occurs, when early voting starts, and the early voting locations. The Supervisor of Elections makes the information available to voters. It is his job!
• Reporting on everyone’s contributions feels like childish tattling. It’s common knowledge that candidates raise money to run for public office.
• Who cares about Daniels’ Facebook epiphany?
• The topics covered in the interview and podcast sections appear to be a covert, petty retaliation against Sheriff Cook for declining an interview.
• Sheriff Cook’s picture should have been first, followed by former Sheriff Daniels, and the two gentlemen who have not held an elected position last. Maybe they should have been listed alphabetically. It seems that no thought was given to placing these pictures at all. Or perhaps there was a method to this madness!
• I have been reading Clay News & Views since its beginning and recommend it to many friends. However, this is the worst article I have read. I hope this is not a glimpse of what we must look forward to in the future.
Definitely voting for Robert Alvero. He is great. Hughes is a trickster. Used to be a Democrat and now claims he is a "Republican". His sister-in-law is in charge of the Teachers Union. Enough said about that! No thanks. It is a shame Michelle Cook doesn't have time to do an interview with you. She is posting nonstop on social media, so she has the time.