Chad Chronister

Chad Chronister
Chad Chronister
	Official portrait, 2017
30th Sheriff of Hillsborough County
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; September 30, 2017
Appointed by	Rick Scott
Preceded by	David Gee
Personal details
Born	1967/1968 (age 56–57); York, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Teresa Card (m. 1992⁠–⁠1995) Tammy Edwards (m. 1997⁠–⁠1999) Nikki DeBartolo (m. 2010)
Children	2
Alma mater	St. Leo's Univeristy (BCJ, MCJ); FBI National Academy;
Occupation	Law enforcement officer; politician; SWAT operator;
	Police career
Allegiance	Hillsborough County
Department	Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Service years	1992–present
Rank	Sheriff

Chad Gregory Chronister (born 1967/1968)^[1] is an American law enforcement officer and politician who has served as the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida since 2017. On November 30, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Chronister as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. He withdrew himself from consideration on December 3, 2024.

Early life

Chad Chronister was born in York, Pennsylvania. His parents, Helena Bentivegna and Danny, had a daughter a year later and eventually divorced. Chronister's maternal grandfather, Jack Bentivegna, lived nearby and served as a father figure. Chronister played junior varsity football and ran track before graduating from high school in 1986. After two years at Mansfield University, where he studied business and communications, Chronister moved to Tampa.^[1] He graduated from Saint Leo University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and a Master of Science in criminology. Chronister later graduated from the 260th session of the FBI National Academy.^[2]

Career

Chronister has served in the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office since 1992, beginning his career as a patrol deputy and SWAT operator. He then served as a detective for several units, including environmental enforcement, warrants, narcotics, and intelligence. Chronister was a supervisor in the Warrants, Narcotics, Intelligence, and Dignitary Protection Detail. He then became deputy commander of the Community Outreach Division, and later the colonel of the Department of Operation Support.^[3]

In 2017, Chronister was appointed sheriff after the unexpected retirement of his predecessor, David Gee, who recommended him.^[4] As sheriff, he is the co-chairman of the Regional Domestic Security Task Force for Region IV Tampa Bay; vice-chairman, Hillsborough County Public Safety Coordinating Council; and vice-chairman, Hillsborough County Public Schools Oversight Committee.^[3] Chronister won elections for sheriff in 2018 and 2020 and was unopposed in 2024.^[4]

On November 30, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Chronister as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.^[2] He withdrew himself from consideration on December 3, 2024.^[5]

Elections

2024 Hillsborough County Sheriff Election^[6]
	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Chad Chronister (inc.)	0	100%
Democratic	N/A	0	0%
Republican hold

2020 Hillsborough County Sheriff Election^[7]
	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Chad Chronister (inc.)	380,977	54.80%
Democratic	Gary Pruitt	249,382	35.87%
No Party Affiliation (NPA)	Ron McMullen	64,850	9.33%
Republican hold

2018 Hillsborough County Sheriff Special Election^[8]
	Candidate	Votes	%
Republican	Chad Chronister (inc.)	280,849	54.82%
Democratic	Gary Pruitt	231,418	45.18%
Republican hold

Personal life

In 1992, Chronister married Teresa Card, with whom he has a son, George, born in 1993. The couple divorced in 1995. In 1997, Chronister married Tammy Edwards, and they divorced in 1999.^[1] In 2010, Chronister married Nicole "Nikki" DeBartolo, the daughter of San Francisco 49ers former owner Edward J. DeBartolo Jr.^[4] Chronister became the father of Nikki's son from a prior marriage.^[1]

In 2017, Chronister's son, George, was arrested for stabbing another man in the face. In 2018, he was sentenced to 22 months in prison and 3 years probation to follow his release.^[9]^[10]^[11] A motion to terminate probation was later filed, and in April 2022, after the serving state attorney voluntarily disqualified himself due to a conflict of interest, Governor Ron DeSantis temporarily assigned the state attorney of a different judicial circuit to represent the state's interests.^[12]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Marrero, Tony (June 22, 2018). "New sheriff won over those in power. The voters? They don't get a say". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 5, 2024. Chad Chronister, 50
^ ^a ^b "Trump picks Florida sheriff Chad Chronister for DEA administrator". ABC News. November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Sheriff Chad Chronister". Florida Sheriff Association. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c Tisch, Chris (December 1, 2024). "Trump nominates Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister as DEA administrator". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
^ Jaramillo, Alejandra (December 3, 2024). "Trump's pick for DEA administrator withdraws from consideration". Politics. CNN. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
^ "Local candidates". Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. August 20, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
^ "2020 Election Results". Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. November 13, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
^ "2018 Election Results". Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. June 5, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
^ "Hillsborough sheriff's son sentenced to 22 months in state prison". WTVT. November 14, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
^ "George Chronister sentenced to 22 months in prison in slashing case". WTSP News. November 14, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
^ "Hillsborough Co. sheriff's son sentenced to 22 months in prison". WFLA News. November 14, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
^ "Executive Order Number 22-91" (PDF). Executive Office of the Governor of Florida. April 7, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2024.