Indian River County sheriff's debate Monday draws big crowd, incumbent and three rivals

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - Hundreds of people crowded into a high school auditorium Monday night for a lively debate featuring the incumbent sheriff, Republican and one write-in challengers seeking the office in the upcoming August primary election.

An estimated 500 people gathered at the Indian River Charter High School Auditorium for the Sheriff's Office debate organized by the Taxpayers’ Association of Indian River County, which was free and open to the public.

Lance Lunceford, the organization's president, moderated the roughly 90-minute event which began with opening statements by Sheriff Eric Flowers, who is seeking reelection to his second term, Fellsmere police chief and assistant city manager, Keith Touchberry, former Indian River County Sheriff’s Office captain and deputy chief, Milo Thornton, and retired banking executive and “civil rights activist,” Deborah Cooney.

Each were allowed roughly three minutes to answer questions and 30 seconds to respond to comments made by other candidates.

Several county and municipal government and public officials packed into the school, including former sheriffs and both tax and election officials.

Flowers told the crowd the county's population growth was a main issue in his reelection bid.

“We are not ready for the people that are here,” Flowers said, adding that a long-range plan was needed “to be prepared in 10 years when our community explodes," in part from a new Interstate 95 exchange.

“I’ve still got a lot more to do,” he said.

Thornton, though, said the community was “not receiving the level of service we deserve” and he saw fentanyl, human trafficking and illegal immigration as major issues.

His approach, he said, is to be “tough on crime, tougher on criminals.”

Touchberry used his opening remarks to call out Flowers' administration, claiming the agency's "leadership is compromised, morale is low and the budget is skyrocketing."

“The (Indian River County Sheriff's Office) is not lacking quality people, it’s lacking quality leadership because leadership is compromised," he said "People become compromised when they lack morals and values and ethics to stay the course.”

Cooney said she had been a “civil rights advocate” or an “advocate for justice” since 2008.

“I have taken police to court … I have prosecuted police misconduct,” said Cooney, who noted all of her work was on a volunteer basis, and she was not a not member of Florida Bar.

Boisterous audience applause and responses had to be addressed several times throughout the debate and seemed to double as a show of loyalty and a sign of crowd support for the candidates.

When the candidates were asked about the greatest threats facing residents and how would each better protect the county, Flowers, Thornton and Touchberry all said illegal immigration was a key issue.

Both Touchberry and Thornton attacked Flowers over the agency's budget, staffing and overall values.

In defending his record, Flowers said county commissioners approved his Sheriff's Office budget and spending without opposition. He touted implementing pay raises and an employee wellness programs in his first term.

He also noted the number of technological advancements, and facilities upgrades, and said with new technology being implemented, it would be “almost impossible to commit a crime in Indian River County.”

“We don’t need a change,” he insisted. “Keep me here.”

Other debate topics included the fentanyl crisis and people experiencing homelessness but avoided overt political references to other candidates or elections.

Lunceford and Doug Demuth, the Taxpayers’ Association's vice president, said the nonpartisan group does not endorse or recommend candidates seeking elected office.

“This is just part of an overall program to highlight candidates who are up for election this election cycle," Demuth said after the debate. "This is just one of several ... we’ve undertaken this year.”

Both said they were “overwhelmed” and “proud” of the turnout.

“…So often we see an indifference to public affairs. We have people who are engaged we have people who are informed, who are passionate … but also civil,” Lunceford said. “Granted, this is a race in which there are a lot of feelings, and that drove a fair amount of the folks that came in here, as you could tell by the applause and interest and voice.”

Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. Follow @coreyarwood on X, email corey.arwood@tcpalm.com or call 772-978-2246.

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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Indian River Sheriff's Office debate Monday draws packed crowd