1985 and 2003

Democrat

In 1985 when Sheriff Glen E. Sapp was indicted on criminal charges and suspended from office, Governor Bob Graham needed to find someone who could immediately fill the vacancy. He turned to someone who had experience at being a sheriff - J.M. "Buddy" Phillips.

Phillips had been a military policeman in the Army before joining the Suwannee County Florida Sheriff's Office in 1963. In 1968 he was elected Sheriff of Suwannee County, serving one four-year term. In 1973 Phillips became a special agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement where he eventually became the executive assistant to the FDLE Commissioner.

In 1984, a sheriff suddenly left office in Flagler County Florida and Governor Graham needed to fill the position quickly. FDLE suggested Phillips' name to the Governor because he was a law enforcement agent and had previously been Sheriff of Suwannee County.

In the coming years, both Governor Graham and his successor Governor Bob Martinez appointed Phillips to serve as sheriff in Glades, Columbia, Pasco and Charlotte Counties.

Phillips served as the Charlotte County Sheriff from April to May 1985 when Governor Graham appointed Lee County Sheriff's Office Captain John J. McDougall to fill the position more permanently.

Phillips left FDLE in 1988 to become the director of the Florida Sheriff's Association. He retired from that position in 2002.

In 2003, when Governor Jeb Bush suspended Sheriff William Clement after he was charged with a felony, it was to Buddy Phillips that Governor Bush turned. Phillips came out of retirement to hold the position of Charlotte County Sheriff again, however this time it was for about two months. In events that were reminiscent of 1985, Phillips was replaced by Lee County Sheriff's Office Captain William F. Cameron.