Top DeSantis Ally Commits Suicide Amid Sex Probe

December 9, 2022 Politics, Republicans

The Florida Times-Union reports:

Kent Stermon, an influential Northeast Florida Republican political donor and a member of the Board of Governors, died Thursday night. He was 50. Stermon was president of Total Military Management, a logistics firm that re-locates members of the armed services, and both through political donations and personal relationships, particularly with Gov. Ron DeSantis, had become a significant player in local and state politics.

Police do not suspect foul play in his death. An Atlantic Beach police officer found him unresponsive in a truck parked at the post office on Mayport Road around 8 p.m. Thursday, according to an incident report. In recent weeks, Stermon was the subject of an “active investigation” by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters told the Times-Union that investigators were scrutinizing alleged sexual misconduct.

Politico reports:

Stermon’s abrupt death sent shock waves through Florida’s political world, especially Republican circles where Stermon was known as a Republican donor and close DeSantis ally. While in serving in Congress, DeSantis lived in a Flagler County condo co-owned by Stermon when redistricting drew him out of his seat, DeSantis made him a member of his transition team, and DeSantis appointed him to the Board of Governors over the state university system in 2019.

Stermon generally kept a low public profile but widely was known to be a friend to DeSantis and a confidant to former Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams and other local politicians. Stermon also loomed large in Jacksonville’s political circles — particularly in law enforcement. He had formed personal relationships with many JSO officers and employees, including Williams, the former sheriff who is now the head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Florida Politics reports:



Kent Stermon was found dead in his car at the Mayport Post Office Thursday night. No foul play is suspected and the investigation is being treated as a suicide. Stermon was one of the closest allies of former Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams also, with an influence over JSO throughout his term. Mayor Lenny Curry also counted Stermon as a friend and ally, and they collaborated politically in recent years, including hosting an early fundraiser in Jacksonville for former Senate candidate Herschel Walker of Georgia.

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