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These constitutional officers contrast with local officials, such as county commissioners, whose
offices may be established and governed by county charter. Article VIII, section 1 requires that the
governing body of a county be composed either by county charter or by standards set forth as follows:
(e) Commissioners. Except when otherwise provided by county charter, the governing
body of each county shall be a board of county commissioners composed of five or
seven members serving staggered terms of four years. After each decennial census the
board of county commissioners shall divide the county into districts of contiguous
territory as nearly equal in population as practicable. One commissioner residing in each
district shall be elected as provided by law.
Art, VIII, § 1(e), Fla. Const. (1999). As indicated, the Constitution permits a county to establish the
composition and terms of its governing body and its county commissioners.
The Florida Constitution makes a distinction between section 1(d) state officers and section
(continued...)
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offices, are selected in accordance with the provisions of article VIII, section 1(d) of
the Florida Constitution, which states:
(d) County officers. There shall be elected by the electors of each
county, for terms of four years, a sheriff, a tax collector, a property
appraiser, a supervisor of elections, and a clerk of the circuit court …
Art. VIII, § 1(d), Fla. Const. (1999) (emphasis added). As indicated, the Florida
Constitution establishes a limited class of statewide constitutional officers – sheriffs,
tax collectors, property appraisers, supervisors of elections, and clerks of the circuit
courts – as "County officers" who are charged with administering and enforcing state
laws and programs on a local level.
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