Ex Rep. Snyder to be Sworn in as Martin County Sheriff

Former Florida Rep. William Snyder will return to the Martin County sheriffs office as he is sworn in as Martin County sheriff on Jan. 8 in Stuart, a release from Snyder's campaign stated on Wednesday.

A Republican from Stuart, Snyder spent six years in the Legislature after 33 years in law enforcement, starting in Miami-Dade County and from 1993 to 2006 with Martin County, where he was major, director of law enforcement.

Snyder will be just the third sheriff for Martin County since 1972.

Snyder will replace Sheriff Robert Crowder, who had announced his retirement and then was defeated in the GOP Congressional District 18 primary last year against U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Palm Beach Gardens.

Crowder, who had been appointed by Gov. Reuben Askew as interim sheriff of Martin County from 1972 to 1973, had served in the elected post since 1992.Sheriff James Holt was sheriff from 1973 until 1992.