14 Facts About Steve Oelrich

Steve Oelrich was an American law enforcement officer and Republican politician who was a member of the Florida Senate from 2006 to 2012.

Steve Oelrich represented the 14th District, which included Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion, Putnam, and Union counties.

Steve Oelrich attended Pinellas County Police Academy, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent's School, FDLE Homicide Investigation School, National Sheriffs' Institute, The 29th Session of the FBI National Academy Executive Development Program and the FDLE Chief Executive Institute.

Steve Oelrich was elected as the first Republican Sheriff in Alachua County since Reconstruction.

Steve Oelrich sought re-election to a second term in 2010, and was challenged by former State Representative Perry McGriff, who had previously run for the seat in 2006, but had lost to Jennings in the Democratic primary.

Steve Oelrich slightly improved on his performance from four years earlier, and defeated McGriff.

Steve Oelrich served as Vice Chairman of the Military Affairs and Domestic Security Committee and as a member of the Policy and Steering Committee on Governmental Operations, as well as the Commerce Committee, the Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities Committee and the General Government Appropriations Committee.

Steve Oelrich was a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Everglades Oversight and the Senate Select Committee on Florida's Inland Waters.

Steve Oelrich continued to serve as Chair of the Higher Education Committee, was Vice Chair of the Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee, and served additionally on the committees of Banking and Insurance, Ethics and Elections, Higher Education Appropriations, and Health and Human Services Appropriations.

In 2012, Florida Senate districts were reconfigured, and rather than run for a third term in the newly created 7th District, Steve Oelrich instead announced in January 2012 that he would run against incumbent Republican United States Congressman Cliff Stearns in the redrawn 3rd district.

Steve Oelrich was not alone in challenging Stearns; veterinarian Ted Yoho and Clay County Clerk of Court Jimmy Jett ran.

Steve Oelrich had three sons, including Nick, who predeceased him.

Steve Oelrich's oldest son, Ivan, is a local businessman in Gainesville; his youngest, Kenneth, was a student at Jacksonville University after serving in active duty in Iraq as a Sergeant in the US Marine Corps.

Steve Oelrich died on September 16,2024, at the age of 78.