1985 - 1986

Republican

John J. McDougall did not start out to be the Sheriff of Charlotte County. He didn't even start out to be a cop. He spent seven years as a Franciscan monk before getting into law enforcement. He first worked in Norfolk County Massachusetts before joining the Lee County Sheriff's Office in 1974. By 1985, McDougall was a captain serving as the agency's public information officer.

In that year, Charlotte County Sheriff Glen E. Sapp was indicted on criminal charges and suspended by Governor Bob Graham. While J.M. "Buddy" Phillips served as the interim sheriff for about a month, the governor's office accepted applications to fill the position more permanently. McDougall submitted his application and was selected.

Sheriff McDougall's selection did not set well with several county commissioners who voiced their opinions to local media that McDougall's appointment as Sheriff was a political move. It took two votes of the County Commission, but McDougall was approved and sworn in as Sheriff.

Sheriff McDougall served Charlotte County for almost 14 months. During that time, suspended Sheriff Glen Sapp was convicted on one felony charge, but the conviction was overturned on appeal. Sheriff Sapp returned to office in July 1986. John McDougall returned to his job at the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

In 1988, when Lee County Sheriff Frank Wanika decided not to seek re-election, former Charlotte County Sheriff John McDougall won his bid to become Lee County Sheriff John McDougall.