Osceola County Sheriff: Meet the two candidates running for office

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — There will be a new sheriff in town in Osceola County after the November general election.

Voters will have the choice to cast their ballots for one of two former Osceola County sheriff’s deputies: Marco Lopez and Luis “Tony” Fernández.

No matter which candidate wins, they will be the first Hispanic sheriff in the county’s history.

READ: Osceola County voters to elect first Hispanic sheriff in November

Read more about each of the candidates below.

Luis “Tony” Fernández

Luis “Tony” Fernández was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. According to his campaign website, his law enforcement career began in 1995 as a special agent of the Puerto Rico State Police. He entered as a patrol officer and worked his way up to a specialized unit known as the Tactical Surveillance Team.

After working for a private investigations firm and loss prevention supervisor in the 2000s, Fernández joined the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff in 2005. Before retiring from the department 14 years later, he worked as a patrol deputy, criminal investigation detective, field training officer and firearms instructor.

READ: Voter Guide: What to expect on the ballot in Osceola County

Marco Lopez

Marco Lopez is a Navy veteran who served more than 22 years on active duty and in the reserves. According to his campaign website, during his service Lopez was trained in counterterrorism, logistics and operations.

Lopez served the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office for more than 16 years as a firearms and defensive tactics instructor while working investigations, street crimes, sex crime stings and as a member of the community response team.

According to his website he also owns the security consultancy firm Lo-Jeng Tech, working to help small businesses, churches and nonprofit organizations with active shooter training, violence in the workplace, cybersecurity and revising security related policies and procedures.

Osceola County voters to elect first Hispanic sheriff in November Whomever wins the November election for Osceola County Sheriff will be the first Hispanic sheriff in the county’s history. (WFTV)