Photo: CBS 12
Martin County's longtime sheriff says he will not run for reelection this year.
William Snyder made that announcement on Wednesday, saying that serving as sheriff has been the absolute honor of a lifetime.
Snyder says that he would be 76 at the end of a fourth term and feels that's too old to do the job the way he wants to do it. The 71-year old calls himself an "active sheriff" and not a "desk sheriff." Snyder says he's out on the road stopping cars and serving search warrants with his deputies.
"I don't want to leave. I'm unequivocal in that. I love what I do. I don't want to leave. I feel physically and mentally that I can continue doing it. But I'm thoughtful about the next four years."
He continues...
"We see on the national level, there's some real questions about people in their seventies in power and in positions of leadership."
Snyder served in the Florida House for six years prior to his time as sheriff and prior to that was with the Miami-Dade Police Department for 20 years.
He was asked what's next and said first a break, then...
"I think, if the opportunity ever arose, I could run for a legislative position of some kind...whether congressional or state again maybe. I think that's something that my age may not be a barrier to."
Snyder is endorsing his chief deputy John Budensiek.
"I have 100 percent confidence in him. He's a man of integrity, of character. He's a family man. Untouched by any scandals, never even had an accusations of misdoings, misdeeds. So, I'm unequivocal in my support."
His son John Snyder is currently a State Representative.