2001 - 2003

Democrat

William E. "Bill" Clement defeated Sheriff Richard Worch in the November 2000 election. Clement, who narrowly lost to Worch in 1996, won in 2000 with 51.73 percent of the total votes.

Sheriff Clement was a second generation native Floridian. He was born in Arcadia and lived most of his life prior to being elected Sheriff in the southwest Florida area.

Sheriff Clement had served in various positions from road patrol to chief investigator under Sheriff Alan LeBeau in the 1970's. He worked briefly at the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office before becoming a private investigator.

In 2003, Sheriff Clement was removed from office by Governor Jeb Bush when he was charged with a felony stemming from allegations of election law violations. As it occurred 18 years earlier, the governor appointed J.M. "Buddy" Phillips to serve as the "interim" sheriff pending the appointment of a more permanent replacememt. Also mirroring the events of 1985, Bush appointed Lee County Sheriff's Office Captain William F. Cameron to complete Clement's term of office.

Clement was convicted in early 2004. Later that year, his conviction was overturned on appeal. The State appealed the decision, but it was upheld by a high court in early 2005. However, by that time, John Davenport had won the November election as Sheriff.