Gov. Rick Scott announced the appointment of Brad Whitehead to succeed his father, Gerald M. “Jerry” Whitehead as Union County Sheriff. He will be the third generation in his family to serve Union County in that post.
“I am confident that Brad Whitehead will be a great sheriff,” Scott said in a prepared statement. “His experience in law enforcement has prepared him to serve the families of Union County.”
Whitehead, a resident of Lake Butler, served since 2012 as assistant warden of programs for the Florida Department of Corrections. Prior to that, he was assistant warden of operations and senior prison inspector within the Office of the Inspector General.
Between 1998 and 2003, Whitehead was a law enforcement detective for the Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations.
The 37-year-old Whitehead succeeds Sheriff Major Garry Seay, who served as interim sheriff after the death of Brad’s father. The elder Whitehead was in the office for 28 years, first elected in 1984 until his passing December 18, which made him the longest serving sheriff in Florida.
Brad Whitehead’s term begins immediately through November 4, 2014.
