Landslide: Flowers elected as 11th Sheriff for IRC

Maj. Eric Flowers has been elected to serve as 11th Indian River County Sheriff, winning nearly 80 percent of the vote in a landslide victory.

“Indian River County, thank you for trusting, believing in and electing me to be the 11th sheriff of our beautiful community,” Flowers said in a video posted to his campaign Facebook page late Tuesday. “This is truly an honor of a lifetime for me.”

Flowers, a Republican, beat his opponent Deborah Cooney, listed as No Party Affiliation. Cooney garnered 20 percent of the local vote, according to the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections unofficial results.

Flowers, who also serves as a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, held an election watch party Tuesday at the Indian River County Fairgrounds. Flowers, the Major of the Bureau of Law Enforcement at the agency, also won in a landslide victory against his Republican opponents during the Aug. 18, 2020 Primary Election.

Flowers will be sworn in as sheriff in early January, officials said.

Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar in March 2019 endorsed Flowers to become the head of the agency. Loar, who had served as sheriff since 2008, said he would not run for re-election for a fourth term.

“I am honored and humbled to have his support. He has been a great friend and mentor over the years,” Flowers previously said. “I look forward to building on the foundation that Loar and other previous sheriffs have built.”

Flowers began working at the sheriff’s office in 2003. He has held a variety of positions while working at the agency, including being a patrol deputy, on the SWAT team, an honor guard, field training deputy, undercover detective, detective sergeant and public affairs lieutenant.