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Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister withdrew Tuesday from consideration as President-Elect Donald Trump's choice as administrator of the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.
In a post on his personal X account, Chronister described his nomination as the honor of a lifetime but indicated he planned to continue serving as sheriff of Florida's third-largest county.
"Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration," Chronister wrote, in part. "There is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and a lot of initiatives I am committed to fulfilling."
"I sincerely appreciate the nomination, outpouring of support by the American people, and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County," the sheriff added.
Chronister became sheriff in 2017 when then-Gov. Rick Scott, now a senator, appointed him following David Gee's abrupt retirement. Voters went on to reelect him twice.
The 56-year-old Pennsylvania native has served in the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office for the last 32 years.
As the county's top cop, Chronister co-chairs the Regional Domestic Security Task Force for Region IV Tampa Bay.
Chronister is one of several Florida Republicans nominated for positions in the incoming Trump administration.
MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/sheriff-chad-chronister-withdraw-dea-administrator-trump/67-cac0a5b3-c0c2-4c7e-852f-18fd371213e2