Lee Sheriff Reggie Rachals faces challenge from Sandra Pressley-Fordham

LEESBURG — While incumbent Lee County Sheriff Reggie Rachals has no opposition in Tuesday’s Republican primary election, it appears Rachals will still have to win an election to maintain the office he’s held the past eight years.

Former LSO Deputy Sandra Pressley-Fordham, who is running for office as an independent candidate, says she wants to be the first female sheriff of Lee County.

Both candidates are law enforcement veterans.

Rachals began his career with the Albany Police Department in 1982 as a member of APD’s mounted patrol. In 1987, he joined the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, where he has served since. Rachals became Lee sheriff in 2008.

Pressley-Fordham began her career in 1992 with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, working as a dispatcher and jailer. She was hired by the Albany Police Department in 1996 and returned to LSO in ‘97, when the opportunity arose to become Lee County’s first female deputy. Pressley-Fordham worked as a narcotics agent and jail administrator, but was terminated in 2015 over a Family Medical Leave Act violation. She contends that the termination was unfounded.

“I didn’t want to pursue any legal action over the matter, like suing the county or anything, because it has always been my ultimate goal to be sheriff of Lee County, the first female sheriff,” Pressley-Fordham said.

“I don’t want to say anything bad about Sandra, I have known her for a long time,” Rachals said. “But the fact is, she used more family medical leave time than is allowed. You get 12 weeks of medical leave in a 12-month period. She used more than that. We even had some people up here donate some of their time to her.”

According to Pressley-Fordham’s personnel file, obtained by The Herald through an Open Records request, she was terminated for the following reason: “Unable to return to work after FMLA leave was exhausted, due to continuing medical condition causing inability to perform essential job duties.”

Rachals, with 27 years of service to Lee County, eight as sheriff, said he’s confident as the election approaches.

“I feel really good about the election, and even though I am running on the Republican ticket, I have always run on the fact that I am for all of Lee County,” the veteran lawman said. “I’m dedicated to all of Lee County. I’ve done that since I first started as sheriff.”

According to Rachals, being sheriff is a challenging but rewarding job, because he says he knows he has made a difference.

“The first year or so it was like building a plane while it was flying,” Rachals said,”trying to get everything in the direction I thought it needed to be going in, updating newer technology for the sheriff’s office. But feel like we have accomplished it. We have set up a ladies firearm program and a new online sex offenders watch program. We’ve been able to put some people in jail that honestly don’t deserve to be out in society.

“Also, since I have been in office, we have set up a new ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) program. We have two officers dedicated to monitoring online predators.”

Pressley-Fordham is running as an independent candidate.

According to Lee Elections Supervisor Veronica Johnson, to run as an independent Pressley-Fordham is required by election rules to pay a qualifying fee of $1,779.86 and collect signatures from registered voters. The total number of signatures required is equal to 5 percent of the active voter population, or 938 signatures, before July 12.

According to Pressley-Fordham, she currently has 975 signatures, although they have not yet been verified by the Elections office.

“I believe it is time for Lee County to have a female sheriff,” said Pressley-Fordham. “Females by their nature are more compassionate and understanding. This gives me an advantage in law enforcement. I get a lot of gratification from helping people, and I believe people are more drawn to female officers.”

The first-time candidate said she knows that law enforcement is historically a male-dominated profession, largely because of the physical demands of the job. But she says she can hold her own.

“I can definitely handle myself, and I am not afraid to get involved in whatever situation comes up,” Pressley-Fordham said. “In fact, I have gotten myself in trouble before for not calling for backup.”

Both candidates say they are strong supporters of the Second Amendment, and both say they believe the budget is one of the most important issues facing Lee County.

“I believe in the Second Amendment. A gun by itself does not shoot anyone. It is the person behind that gun that pulls the trigger that is doing the shooting,” said Rachals. “As far as the budget, Lee County is a big county, and we need more deputies on the road.”

“I absolutely support the Second Amendment. Everyone has a right to defend themselves and their family,” said Pressley-Fordham. “I also think the administration in Lee County is top heavy. We have to find a way to pay for some extra officers.”