Sheriff John McDougall lost a Republican primary runoff in Fort Myers, Florida on October 3 after receiving criticism for his vehement anti-abortion stance. McDougall, who has been in office for 12 years, has used his position to promote his anti-abortion, conservative religious position. For example, he called an abortion doctor who was seeking police protection from anti-abortion protestors a “baby killer.” When Governor Lawton Chiles vetoed a bill to create “Choose Life” license plates in 1998, McDougall made up 250 of his own, and displayed one in his office in the hands of a Virgin Mary statue. McDougall also posted letters attacking gays and lesbians, feminists, atheists, and the American Civil Liberties Union on the department website. His former officer, Rod Sharp, won the Republican nomination by 68 percent, and will run against Democrat Robert Neeld and Republican Gary Grosser, who will run as an independent.
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