Name: Sandra Lea Downs

Age: (born Valentines Day, 1959) 49 yrs. old

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

Education: several post high school studies: Eastern Kentucky University, and Indiana Central College, licensed Florida realtor until 2003, gymnastics coaching clinics, and self studied law enforcement and justice system

Years in the Keys: 6+ years (since early 2002), adult children reside here as well.

Occupation or previous occupation: I moved to Miami in the late 70s and lived there 20 years. Former husband and I owned and operated a yacht service business. I also was a full time coach of Olympic styled gymnastics and was Director of gym programs for both boys and girls. As a former competitive gymnast, I had a passion for the sport. I made gymnastics lessons available to low-income families through scholarships, and dedicated many hours to organize shows and events for all children to participate in (half-time shows, parades, theater shows, school productions, etc.) I was divorced and raising 5 children on my own for a few years. I later remarried and moved to Hilton Head Island for 5 years before coming back to South Florida where my children wished to live again. I found an opportunity in Real Estate and used that income to start our Tree Business which I co-own with my husband. My husband is an arborist, and known as "Tarzan" to most.

Family: My family has been in the US for over 200 years and helped open up the Cumberland Gap with Daniel Boone and land was deeded to my forefathers by the US Govt. for their efforts. I have a large extended family that still live primarily in Southern KY area.

I am the mother of 6 children: 5 boys, 1 daughter aged (present ages 11 to 32)

Eldest son, 32 yrs. is married to a lovely Cuban lady who is a school teacher, they live in Gainesville where he is completing a Doctorate degree in biology and wildlife management at U of F. They will be returning to the Keys to live after he completes his education.

Only daughter is a practicing Physician Assistant. Her husband is in the food and beverage business. They live in the Lower Keys and work primarily in that area.

Son who is a fisherman currently resides at home with 2 other younger brothers, one whom is in elementary school and is an entertainer and sports enthusiast, and one who goes part time to FKCC and is an artist and a fisherman, but is also interested in welding and the family business.

One son whom we lost while living in the Keys was a fantastic marine mechanic and an award winning fisherman.

The family is diverse in interests and are involved in nearly every industry in the Keys. We are also aware of both the limitations and opportunities the Keys provide.

The most pressing issue in my term once elected:

There is no community that can maintain it's credibility without a just law enforcement agency. For 30 years, the Keys has been home to drug runners and gangsters. Criminals would have a very hard time operating without the assistance of the law enforcement. They haven't had a hard time here. We know the stories of the drug days of the 80s, but this wasn't a matter of a few bales of pot coming in and the locals getting free marijuana on Duval Street like Captain Tony is so famous for describing. 80 people were murdered and went missing in these days and still now, and the Sheriff Office solved none of these crimes. Consider the lax attitude in the recent spree of homeless murders. They call some "natural causes", that I know were not.

We have had the same administration in place for 20 years, and now an insider Bob Peryam wants to continue to operate the Sheriff Office in the same manner. It is widely accepted knowledge that most of the current powerful people in the Keys amassed their fortunes from the trade back then. They used the money they made to expand their interests in real estate, tourism, etc. They will continue to monopolize this town and control every industry here as long as law enforcement is in their pocket.

They have placed their friends in every controlling position in the Keys.

Candidates hosted by them run for Commission, Sheriff, Judges, State Attorney, etc. Many times they stack the deck with both sides Democrat and Republican candidates. The Supervisor of Elections, Harry Sawyer was a Detective with the Sheriff Office back in the 80s. Both Peryam's worked there as well. And quite a few others. Very few arrests were made, and no big names. A virtual bubble was created we now call the Bubba System protecting all involved and all the secrets. Since Republican Harry Sawyer has been counting our votes for the past 20 years, the Republicans have controlled the Keys, even though they make up only 37% of the voters.

There's a lot of skeletons they don't want uncovered, and murders they don't want looked back into. A lot of politics are in play making sure they retain their lavish and comfortable lifestyles. And they make sure, no outsiders get in and no secrets get out.

Any candidate that calls attention to these affiliations is discredited and slandered by the main media sources, as the powerful do not want to lose their choke hold on the Keys. I felt only by distancing myself from both parties and all the Bubbas could I legitimately campaign and owe no favors if elected. If we don't restore the Sheriff Office to a fair and just law enforcement agency, we can not remove corruption from the Keys.

The haves will get away with murder, and the have-nots will be mercilessly persecuted. Anyone that stands up against the "establishment" will be black balled and terrorized with different agencies until they give up and leave town. The stories all have been told, but people seem to think it can't happen to them, until it does. Then there is little they can do to correct it. The State Attorney and the Sheriff play hand in hand for the most part, enacting arrests and prosecuting to the full extent the little guy, and always letting the Bubbas go free. I believe we should ALL PLAY BY THE SAME RULES. It's not a popular slogan for the ones who have 2 sets of game rules in play right now, whereby they ensure they always win.

We have to clean house this coming election. I decided to run for Sheriff because I did not think Phil Mandina would run again. They massacred him for 3 elections in the media because Phil knew of the drugs, and the investigations which involved Sheriff Roth running drugs through Central Florida. Phil threatened Roth with action if he were elected during the window of 2 years after Roth leaves office where Roth can still be held accountable for his actions during his Sheriff term. So Tuell, Becker and the Bubbas (Roth's friends) assured Phil a smear campaign like never before. I think the voters have 2 choices if they want the corruption to end, elect me or Phil. Ken Davis was put up to run by the wealthy Republicans, and Peryam wants to continue with Bubba protection. Me and Phil want to clean house. If you want credentials, Phil has more than any other candidate by 10x over, if you want someone that will tell you who will be fired, and exactly where this corruption is elect me. In this website I have attempted to show how the Sheriff Office funds their friends companies with contracts and money from the taxpayers. They are using the Sheriff Office like their private bank account, and the jobs there like an employment agency for their friends and allies. My message has been popular with the 90% of the people that are not a part of the system, but the 10% that are in control, have tried hard to make sure I am not heard. Sandra Downs