Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to prominent Democrats at the national level, released a poll on Wednesday that found that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts was leading the Republican presidential pack in Florida.

Romney topped the poll with 30 percent while former Gov. Rick Perry of Texas placed second in the Sunshine State with 24 percent. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who represented Georgia in Congress, took third with 10 percent.

Donnie W. Crum was appointed interim sheriff of Wakulla County by Gov. Rick Scott Thursday.

Crum, who has said he will not seek re-election to the office before the term expires in Jan. 7, 2013, replaces Sheriff David Harvey who officially steps down Oct. 1 in his ninth term as sheriff.

Harvey has taken the job of executive director with the Florida sheriffs Risk Management Fund.

According to the release from the governor's office:

A poll released on Wednesday found that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts is leading the pack of Republican presidential candidates in Iowa, home of the first caucus. With 21 percent, Romney led the American Research Group poll of likely caucus voters. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, who won the Iowa Republican straw poll last month, placed second with 15 percent, followed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry with 14 percent. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Iowa, who placed a strong second in the Iowa straw poll, came in fourth with 12 percent.