Rep. Snyder Claims to Have Raised $166,000 for Martin Sheriff's Run

Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, who is forgoing a run for a fourth term to seek the sheriffs position in Martin County, says hes topped $166,000 in his current campaign.

We have raised more money than any sheriffs race in Martin County history, Snyder posted on his campaign website.

The $166,000 would top the money Snyder needed to win his seat in 2006 -- $144,197 -- and be re-elected in 2008 -- $165,761. Snyder was unopposed in 2010.

Snyder jumped into the sheriffs race before the 2011 session, when he was pushing a hotly contested immigration bill in the House. A former major in the county department, he already is going up against three opponents, all Republicans, in the Republican-dominated county, including former Florida Department of Transportation's law enforcement chief executive officer David Dees.

Current Sheriff Robert Crowder, who announced last year he wouldnt seek another term for the post hes held since 1982, spent just over $57,000 in both his 2004 and 2008 campaigns.

Crowder had been feeling heat from inside the party the past few years, in part for opposing a couple of efforts by state Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart.The internal backlash peaked when he backed Democrat Alex Sink -- even appearing in campaign ads -- in the 2010 gubernatorial race against Gov. Rick Scott.