NEW PORT RICHEY — Noting her experience as a Florida prosecutor, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco has endorsed Ashley Moody to be the state's next attorney general.
He joins a slate of other law enforcement leaders to back her candidacy.
"Ashley is a previous prosecutor," Nocco recently told the Florida Record. "She understands that protecting Floridians is critical to make Florida a destination for families to live and visit."
Moody, a Republican, will face off against Sean Shaw, her Democratic opponent, in November.
One of her main campaign messages is to tout the endorsement her candidacy has received from 57 of Florida's 66 sheriffs.
In one of her most recent campaign ads, Moody highlights her "more than 90 percent" endorsement from the state's law enforcement leaders. She also notes her experience as a prosecutor,a job that stands out for many sheriffs, including Nocco in Pasco County.
It was not that long ago that Floridians and the rest of the nation faced the horror of the Parkland school shootings, and Nocco says school safety is a big reason for his support of Moody.
"As the mother of a school-aged child, she knows that ensuring the safety of our schools is one of the most critical missions," he said.
Moody, who is also a former circuit judge, has made her law enforcement experience a significant part of her campaign against Shaw, who is a consumer insurance lawyer, a first-term House member in Tampa and the son of the late Chief Justice of Florida, Leander Shaw.
A native Floridian, she has closely aligned her campaign with law enforcement agencies throughout the state and is the wife of a federal law enforcement officer.
"I thank God there are brave men and women who will sacrifice their safety for the safety of others," Moody states on her campaign website.
Moody has also gained the support of outgoing Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and has focused much of her campaign on her conservative stance on issues such as religious freedom, protecting the lives of the unborn and respect for law enforcement, the American flag and constitutional rights.