Senate hopeful draws a crowd in West Putnam

By Al Krombach/ Palatka Daily News

INTERLACHEN — The heavenly scent of barbecue mixed with the sterner air of politics Tuesday as Alachua County’s sheriff came looking for votes in West Putnam.

Steve Oelrich, a candidate for state Senate, District 14, greeted about 50 residents at the Backwoods Smokehouse, six miles south of Interlachen on County Road 310. Proprietors Jeanie Lee and Scott Young hosted the event. Tables heaped with barbecued ribs and sausage and deli platters helped draw in visitors to meet the four-term sheriff from the neighboring county.

“We’re proud to have Sheriff Oelrich here tonight,” Lee said. “He’s family oriented and he has good morals and values.”

The only elected Republican in Alachua County, Oelrich said it would be difficult to leave the sheriff’s office to run for another elected post. He touts his record of crime reduction and says he is privileged to work every day with “heroes.”

“This was going to be my last term anyway,” he said. “I have two years remaining in this term, but this opportunity came up to run for the state Senate.” Oelrich said he intends to remain as sheriff until Oct. 1, when he’ll resign to campaign full-time.

Incumbent state Sen. Rod Smith, D-Alachua, is leaving office to run for governor.

Senate District 14 covers all of four counties — Alachua, Union, Gilchrist and Bradford — and parts of four more, including several precincts in West Putnam.

“Each Senate district in Florida comprises about 400,000 people,” Oelrich said. “In South Florida, that’s an area of 40 by 50 blocks. Here it covers eight counties.” He said part of his campaign includes familiarizing himself with the rural areas covered by the district, including Interlachen.

He said people he meets on the campaign trail tell him the most important issues to them are immigration and property issues.

“We have to protect people’s property rights,” he said. “They don’t want their land taken away for private development.” At the same time, he said, people should be allowed to do what they want with their land, within limits.

Oelrich said water is another concern. Some residents are concerned their water supply will be piped away to serve South Florida.

Oelrich is being challenged by Travis Horn in the Republican primary. Democratic candidates for the same seat are state Rep. Ed Jennings and Perry McGriff Jr. All are from Gainesville.

Smith is scheduled to appear today at the Howe Memorial United Methodist Church fellowship hall in Crescent City from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

The primary election will be Sept. 5. Early voting opens Aug. 21.