Sheriff Jerry Demings to run for Orange County mayor

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Sheriff Jerry Demings has officially filed to run for Orange County mayor in the 2018 election,

He officially filed the paperwork Thursday.

Demings is running to replace Mayor Teresa Jacobs, who will leave office because of term limits.

Demings was just elected to his third term as sheriff and if he were to be elected mayor, a special election would have to be held in 2018 to fill his position for the two years remaining in the sheriff's term.

In an unrelated interview Thursday with WFTV's Greg Warmoth, Deming's wife, Congresswoman Val Demings, discussed a possible run but didn't mention he had, or planned to, file the official paperwork.

"What I can tell you, over the last three months, quite a few people on both sides, (Republican) and (Democrat), asked him to run," she said. "I can't imagine him not in a uniform, but what I do know, he will make that decision."

A short time later, Jerry Demings filed to run for mayor.

After the paperwork had been filed, Channel 9 went to the congresswoman's town hall meeting, but she declined to comment as she left.

The mayoral election is not until November 2018, but Jerry Demings can now start raising funds for his campaign.

He also has until June 8, 2018, to send a letter to Gov. Rick Scott saying he plans to resign as sheriff at the end of the year.

Cox Media Group