Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly is one of six sheriffs listed as having endorsed Randy Fine, the Republican candidate for the House of Representatives in Florida’s sixth congressional district. Fine is running for the seat vacated when Michael Waltz accepted an appointment to become President Donald Trump’s national security adviser. He’s facing Democrat Josh Weil, Libertarian Andrew Parrott, and NPA candidate Randall Terry.
Staly is far from the only public official to endorse Fine. Northeast Florida leans firmly Republican, and so a litany of federal and state lawmakers and county officials have cast their endorsement in that direction. The endorsement from Staly is still noteworthy, however, because although he is a Republican it’s long been his practice to refrain from partisan politics when able. In this case he appears to have endorsed Fine and promptly returned to this strictly hands-off approach, even when that endorsement begs further questions.
Background
Randy Fine is one of the most purposefully brash state lawmakers in Florida. It’s not a characterization he’d shy from – Fine frequently uses incendiary language on issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict and social politics, always doubling down when asked if he regrets a strong comment. Simply put, he doesn’t have ‘gaffes’ because his speaking is consistently intentional no matter how strongly-worded. For example: asked about the implication of tweeting ‘#BombsAway’ at two Muslim congresswomen and suggesting they leave before he arrives in Congress, he replied, “that’s pretty light by my standards”.
Randy Fine’s portrait from the state legislature.
In essence, Fine is more than willing to have his rhetoric questioned. He mostly has answers. But the journalistic duty of questioning him extends not only to him, but to those willing to sign off on his readiness for office. Those who endorse Fine, just like those who endorse Weil or Parrott or Terry, are expected to be able to defend their endorsement when the candidate takes a bold stance. Despite several attempts to contact him for an interview, Sheriff Staly has not only not defended his endorsement, he hasn’t even responded to requests.
Fine’s Statements
On January 30th, Rick Staly was emailed with a series of statements made by Randy Fine which have created controversy, asking for the sheriff’s reaction to them. The message was sent to Staly’s personal email address, so there would be no conflict of improperly speaking on behalf of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. The question was posed in the exact way which Staly has requested they be asked when not related to his official duties. The statements made by Randy Fine and subsequently presented to Rick Staly were as follows, in their entirety.
- “Muslim terror has attacked the United States – again. The blood is on the hands of those who refuse to acknowledge the worldwide #MuslimProblem. It is high time to deal with this fundamentally broken and dangerous culture.” (tweet from January 1st, 2025)
- “I know that Judenrat likes to keep tabs on all the Jews in order to report back to the Nazis back in that time, but no one is making you continue that tradition today.” (Facebook comment directed at constituent)
- “Just because someone says they are a Jew doesn’t mean they are one. Those who support BDS aren’t Jews.” (Facebook comment referring to Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, a pro-Palestine economic movement)
- [When asked if he approved of US reporters being in a building bombed by Israel] “Yes!” (Facebook comment directed at constituent)
- “Stop the trucks. Let them eat rockets. There are plenty of those. #BombsAway” (tweet from December 2nd, 2024 speaking against humanitarian aid to Gaza)
- “Anyone who gives the numbers of Palestinians deaths supports terrorism. They are mathematically impossible. #DollGenocide” (tweet in response to disputed fatality numbers in Gaza)
- [When shown a photo appearing to depict a dead infant in the rubble of Gaza and questioned on ‘how he sleeps at night’ while supporting it] “Quite well, actually! Thanks for the pic!” (tweet directed at a constituent)
- “The ‘Hebrew Hammer’ is coming. @RashidaTlaib and @IlhanMN might consider leaving before I get there. #BombsAway” (tweet directed at representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar)
- “You are a terrorist organization. #KickThemOutOfNewYork #BombsAway” (tweet directed at UNICEF after the organization objected to the conflict in Gaza)
- “May the streets of Gaza overflow with the blood of these animals.” (tweet)
- “These animals live in Florida. Hopefully not for long.” (tweet)
- “There is no suffering adequate for these animals. May the streets of Gaza overflow with blood.” (tweet)
- “Gaza must be destroyed.” (tweet from February 20th, 2025)
- “Palestinian = Hamas #BombsAway” (tweet from February 20th, 2025)
Attempts were made to contact Staly several times after the initial request for comment, via email, phone call, text message, and in-person conversation. Several of these were text messages to Staly’s personal cell phone number as supplied from himself, with the messages showing as having been read. Staly has not responded to the initial comment request nor any follow-ups, even ones to confirm if he’d be responding with ‘no comment’. When asked at an event on Wednesday to confirm if he’d received the messages, Staly twice said he’d only speak about that event. He was informed of the upcoming publishing of this article, and as with all the other texts, was marked as having viewed it.
Optics to Muslim Residents
Though precise demographics are uncertain, hundreds of Flagler County residents are members of the Muslim faith. Like all residents, they are among those Staly and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office are sworn to protect. The comments made by Fine referring to a ‘worldwide #MuslimProblem’ undoubtedly contribute to a stigma based around the Muslim faith – one which, again, Fine has never shied from adding to. In a time where local Muslims may feel as though a candidate for office has likened them to terrorists like they would’ve experienced shortly after 9/11, their sheriff has chosen to remain silent on rhetoric that can and has lead to anti-Muslim violence in America.
All those residents know, all Staly has told them on the matter, is that he supports the candidate who made these remarks. The option to acknowledge the nuance of endorsing a candidate without loving every statement they’ve made was available to Staly, but he did not utilize it. It is, of course, within Staly’s personal habits to avoid weighing in on politically-charged issues when possible so it’s not entirely surprising that this would be his chosen path here.
Yet still, by choosing to make any endorsement within the special congressional election, Staly entered himself into this political discourse for its duration. His lack of response leaves residents in a state of uncertainty as to where he stands on a divisive and culturally vital issue that directly relates to how he would protect and serve a significant number of his constituents.
