TITUSVILLE – A third candidate for public office has come forward to say a Florida Space Coast sheriff offered help getting a job in exchange for dropping out of a race and supporting his preferred candidate.
Kimberly Musselman, an assistant Brevard County attorney, told Florida Today that Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey asked her to withdraw from her race for county judge and endorse a candidate backed by him. In return, the sheriff said he could use his influence to help her become the district’s top prosecutor, she said.
After he refused, Ivey urged some of his top donors to drop their support, Musselman told Florida Today.
“My donors dried up very quickly,” Musselman said.
In response to an inquiry Wednesday, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tod Goodyear said in an email, “We have no comment at this time.”
Two other candidates for public office have made similar allegations to Florida Today.
Cocoa Beach Police Officer Chris Hattaway said the Republican sheriff asked him to step down because of former state Rep. Tom Goodson, another candidate in a county commission race. Shawn Overdorf, a former school resource officer, told a similar story about his school board run. In return, both candidates were offered jobs in Goodson’s office if he won, Florida Today reported.
When contacted by Florida Today, Goodson denied involvement in any effort to pressure candidates out of the election and said he had not spoken to Ivey about hiring anyone.
Ivey has gained national attention in recent years for his weekly “Wheel of Fugitive” videos that show the sheriff spinning a wheel with photos of 10 of the county’s most wanted.
“Everybody watches it. Even the fugitives watch it” to see who becomes “fugitive of the week,” said Ivey, who was elected sheriff in 2012.
