Steve Oelrich is a Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 member of the Florida Senate

Florida Senate

The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....

, a body in which he represents the 14th District. His district of almost 400,000 residents includes all of Alachua

Alachua County, Florida

Alachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat is Gainesville, Florida. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida and is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans...

, Bradford

Bradford County, Florida

Bradford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 26,088. The 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate for the county was 28,118 . Its county seat is Starke, Florida. Bradford County is the home of the Florida State Prison as well as several other state...

, Gilchrist

Gilchrist County, Florida

Gilchrist County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 14,437. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 16,402. Gilchrist County has only one traffic light in the entire county and has no road with more than one lane of traffic...

, and Union

Union County, Florida

Union County is a county located in the state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 14,916. The county seat is Lake Butler.- History :...

 and parts of Columbia

Columbia County, Florida

Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 56,513. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 64,040 . Its county seat is Lake City, Florida....

, Levy

Levy County, Florida

Levy County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 34,450. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 37,998. Its county seat is Bronson, Florida. Levy is pronounced lee vee.- History :...

, Marion

Marion County, Florida

Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 316,183. Its county seat is Ocala....

, and Putnam

Putnam County, Florida

Putnam County is a county located in the state of Florida. The entire county makes up the Palatka Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 70,423. The U.S. Census Bureau 2009 estimate for the county was 72,893 . Its county seat is Palatka, Florida. The county is centrally...

 Counties in North Central Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

. Senator Steve Oelrich was sworn in as the State Senator from the 14th District on November 21, 2006. He is also the former Sheriff of Alachua County for over 14 years.

Political career

Before being elected to the Senate, Oelrich served as the Sheriff of Alachua County for over 14 years from 1992 to 2006. His law enforcement career also includes duty as a Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and as a St. Petersburg Police Officer.

Alachua County Sheriff

Steve Oelrich’s 14-year command at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office was filled with many accomplishments that brought the agency into the modern world of crime fighting.

Some of these accomplishments include :

• Brought a grant writer onboard in the search for available monies that could be used to upgrade many of the agencies outdated systems. By the end of FY 98, the influx of grant monies totaled nearly $2.5 million dollars. With it, he was able to completely upgrade the agency‘s computer systems, add a computerized ―paperless, warrants management program, start the agency’s website and Starlink bulletin board, implement community-based substations and expand the K-9 unit with the purchase of an explosives detecting K-9.

• Instrumental in the formation and organization of a statewide Hostage Negotiators Association and he participated locally in the implementation of “Partnerships for a Productive Community” FOCUS groups.

• Partnered with WCJB TV 20 and Crime Stoppers to run a weekly broadcast showing North Central Florida’s Most Wanted fugitives’ faces as well as their crimes, and with the local papers. The Most Wanted program was, and is today, highly successful at removing criminals from the streets.

• Instituted a career development program for deputy sheriff employees, along with a new performance appraisal system to fairly evaluate employees for advancement.

• Led the acquisition of a new county jail and a new administration building.

• Under Sheriff Oelrich, The Alachua County Sheriff‘s Office achieved accreditation with three major accrediting bodies: (1)The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA), (2) Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission, and (3) the Public Safety Communications Accreditation.

Florida Senate

As a freshman Senator, Steve Oelrich was appointed as Chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee. He served also as Vice Chairman of the Military Affairs and Domestic Security Committee and as a member of the Policy and Steering Committee on Governmental Operations, as well as the Commerce Committee, the Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities Committee and the General Government Appropriations Committee. He was also a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Everglades Oversight and the Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Inland Waters.

Currently, Senator Oelrich continues to serve as Chair of the Higher Education Committee, is Vice Chair of the Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee, and serves additionally on the committees of Banking and Insurance, Ethics and Elections, Higher Education Appropriations, and Health and Human Services Appropriations.

2006 Election

On November 7, 2006, Oelrich won election to the 14th District Seat in the Florida Senate

Florida Senate

The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....

, defeating Edward L. Jennings, Jr. (D). Oelrich garnered 64,714 votes (53.8%) to Jennings’ 55,621 votes (46.2%).

2010 Election

On November 2, 2010, Oelrich defeated Perry McGriff and won re-election to the Florida Senate

Florida Senate

The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....

. Oelrich received 70,789 votes (53.83%) to McGriff’s 60,725 votes (46.17%).

Community and Civic Participation

• National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), Board of Directors
• The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) , Board of Directors
• NSA Gift of Life Foundation, Past Chairman
• Florida Sheriffs Association, Former President
• Florida State University Alumni Association, Board of the Directors
• Florida High School Association Public Liaison Advisory Committee, Member
• Public Service Commission Nominating Council, Member
• Boy Scouts of America, Board of Directors & Alachua County District Chairman
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters
• University of Florida Procurement Organization's Advisory Board
• Juvenile Assessment Center Advisory Board
• Florida Model Jail Standards Committee
• Florida Special Agents School, Past President
• U.S. Drug Enforcement School, Guest Speaker
• Gainesville Rotary Club, Member
• Kairos Prison Ministry, Member
• Catholic Charities Bishop’s Ball, 2003 Honorary Chairman
• Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk, 2001-2002 Chairman

Nick Oelrich “Gift of Life” Golf Classic

The purpose of the “Gift of Life” foundation is to promote organ and tissue donation. The yearly event is named after Senator Oelrich’s son, Nick, an organ and tissue donor, who saved or enhanced the lives of one hundred and eight people. Each year, the Nick Oelrich “Gift of Life” Golf Classic enables us to remember Nick Oelrich and the great contribution of life he made.

Education

Oelrich graduated from St. Petersburg College

St. Petersburg College

St. Petersburg College is a fully accredited post-secondary educational institution located in St. Petersburg, Florida, serving some 65,000 students annually...

 in 1968 with a A.A. in Police Administration and a B.S. in Criminology with a certificate in law enforcement from Florida State University

Florida State University

The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...

. He also attended Pinellas County Police Academy, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Special Agent‘s School, FDLE Homicide Investigation School, National Sheriffs‘ Institute, The 29th Session of the FBI National Academy Executive Development Program and the FDLE Chief Executive Institute.

Family

Senator Oelrich is married to Rose Mary Treadway and they have three sons, one deceased, Nick. His oldest son, Ivan, is a local businessman in Gainesville; his youngest, Kenneth, is currently a student at Jacksonville University after serving in active duty in Iraq as a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

External links

• Florida State Legislature - Senator Steve Oelrich official government website
• Steve Oelrich official campaign website
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Steve Oelrich (FL) profile
• Follow the Money - Steve Oelrich
  • 2006 campaign contributions