I read that the Florida Sheriff's Association has named Manuel Diaz de la Portilla their 2016 Legislator of the Year.

Nice that they're being so openly anti-gun any more.

Is membership automatic with election to the office of sheriff or does the sheriff have to actively join up?

I'm starting to think I want a sheriff who'll renounce their membership.

From the mission statement page on the FSA website: So, it seems like if you are a Sherrif in FL, you are a part of it.

I'd imagine the agenda is steered heavily by the 5 member board of directors (all sheriffs):

Sheriff Sadie Darnell
President, Alachua County

Sheriff Jerry Demings
Vice President, Orange County

Sheriff Brad Steube
Secretary, Manatee County

Sheriff Mike Adkinson
Treasurer, Walton County

Sheriff David Shoar
Immediate Past President, St. Johns County

ETA: They also list their corporate sponsors on their site. Perhaps those corporations would like to know how disappointed we are that they are sponsoring such an anti-freedom organization. Adams Arms is on there as a bronze annual partner, for example.

Sadie is VERY anti gun.  I heard she refused to sign off on any apps for Class three stuff.
She is up for re election this year.  I  am hoping there is enough interest to dump her sorry butt, but it looks like she will win in a typical Alachua County liberal landslide.

Bradshaw in Palm Beach is extremely anti gun....

Curiously, this may not be the case this year.  Sadie has a vindictive side which made it to light recently.

Link

And he's a shoo in for reelection this year.

saw that.... it sucks

yeah.  Sadie, in any sane world, would have recused herself from passing judgement on a political rival in this upcoming election.  That she chose to jump in with both feet, and persecute Zac for her own political gain is pretty telling.

And it is far from the first time she has done this.

The FSA is against us. Always had and always will be. Hell, they're against a unified State Police.

Lee county has sheriff Mike scott who is vocally pro gun
his cite not the pdf on the bottom read it if you care to.

Letters like his are why I wondered how a sheriff became a member of the association.

The FSA is speaking for the pro-gun sheriffs, seemingly without objection, when they do their anti- thing.  That's why I was looking for sheriffs that repudiate their membership.

 
I'm voting for Charlie Strickland for Leon County Sheriff. He's currently a Lt with them and he is one of the owners of Talon Range and Talon Training Group.




It is a sweet facility and he is very pro gun.