Republican announces sheriff's candidacy

Sheriff’s Chief of Staff Dan Kuhn, a Republican, formally announced his candidacy for the sheriff’s position in Marion County. He made the announcement Saturday at a noon rally at the Downtown Square in Ocala.

Dan Kuhn, chief of staff at the Sheriff’s Office, speaks at the Downtown Square in Ocala on Saturday, March 12, announcing that he will run for sheriff in 2012.

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Chief of Staff, Marion County Sheriff's Office, Dan Kuhn was the guest speaker at the recent State Road 200 Coalition meeting.

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Ron Ratner

Dan Kuhn, left, gathers with his family on stage, including his wife, Tajia, and children, from left, Megan, 13, Kaitlyn, 10, and Stephen, 15. Four of them were joining the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to Megan.

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Sheriff Ed Dean has said he will not run again in 2012.

With his family watching, Kuhn was the featured speaker, telling the crowd of approximately 200 people he was “fully invested in the future of our community.”

He spoke of his background as a state prosecutor before establishing his own law practice. Later he became General Counsel for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

“I always felt a call to serve above and beyond my profession. I have served through community service and charitable organizations such as the United Way and Children’s Home Society. I have also served with an eye towards improving the economic vitality of our community with the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Council.”

Kuhn obtained his bachelors and law degree from the University of Florida, then trained as a law enforcement officer, receiving certification at what was then Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville. “I went through recruit school with some of the young men and women that are serving on the front line in our community today,” he said. He emphasized that he had “worked hard and earned the privilege of wearing the uniform.”

He also went to the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and graduated from the Chief Executive Program set up by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

He praised the sheriff and deputies, but pointed out budget problems. “Our staff is stretched extremely thin. We have frozen and eliminated vacant positions as people have retired or left our employment over the last three years as the economy has faltered and as we have tried to be good stewards in an office that is a public trust.”

When he told the crowd that “over time, we must find a way to provide a fair living for our employees,” spontaneous applause broke out. There were many deputies and employees of the Sheriff’s Office in attendance.

He continued, “One of the strengths of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office is our commitment to the community we serve. That will not waver.”

Earlier, County Commissioner Kathy Bryant sang “God Bless America,” and Brad Connelley sang, played the guitar and harmonica in providing music.

The crowd also sang “Happy Birthday” to Kuhn’s daughter, Megan, who turned 13 that day, as her siblings Stephen, 15, and Kaitlyn, 10, and his wife Tajai joined in.