Twenty-four year veteran of the State Attorney’s Office, Robert L. “Skip” Jarvis Jr., has announced that he is a candidate and will be on the ballot for state attorney, Third Judicial Circuit (covering the counties of Suwannee, Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, and Taylor).

Jarvis is a product of Columbia County, having graduated from Columbia High School and Lake City Community College. He received his bachelor’s degree in criminology and a certificate in law Enforcement from Florida State University, and his law degree from Mississippi College School of Law.

Jarvis is no stranger to government service, having previously served as chief deputy clerk of court in Columbia County and as city treasurer for the city of Lake City.

Jarvis has successfully managed private businesses involved in oil and gas exploration and production, handling sites from the state of Florida as far west as Utah and north to Arkansas. In addition, he has experience in private civil and defense work as an associate with the firm of Zachary and Zachary in Hattiesburg, Miss.

For the past 24 years Jarvis has been with the state attorney’s office handling not only a full felony, misdemeanor and juvenile caseload, but he has also held the sole responsibility for the state attorney’s office in civil matters in which the state of Florida is a party. These include, among other things, bond validations, civil liability claims and mental health commitments. For some 20 years he handled as a part of his duties contraband forfeiture actions for the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office and the Live Oak Police Department, turning over monies and properties used by criminals in their felony crimes to the appropriate agencies.

Based upon his business background, in addition to his other caseload, Jarvis was assigned by the state attorney to handle economic and white collar crime, consumer fraud and environmental crime circuit-wide. He developed and presents programs to civic, fraternal and religious organizations covering identity theft and consumer fraud to educate the public on how to avoid becoming a victim.

Jarvis has prosecuted cases in all seven counties of the Third Circuit and has been previously cross sworn to handle prosecutions for statewide prosecutor Melanie Hines.

For the past 20 years, Jarvis has also been an instructor for the North Florida Community College Law Enforcement Academy, where he teaches basic recruit classes, law enforcement and corrections officers as well as recertification and incentive classes for experienced officers. He holds a close bond with his former students who are employed in the areas of law enforcement and corrections, many of whom are currently serving with agencies here in Suwannee County.

Jarvis stresses three areas he wishes to address by his candidacy.

First, the state attorney must be open and accountable to the people he represents. Any and all citizens must be free to openly and candidly speak with their state attorney regarding matters of concern to them. Jarvis has a reputation for being accessible to the public. He states that while he may not be able to disclose information or give the answer they wish to hear, all citizens should have access to their governmental prosecutor.

Second, as a prosecutor, the state attorney must be law enforcement oriented. There must be a partnership with law enforcement agencies, while maintaining independence and discretion, which is necessary to make appropriate charging decisions. Jarvis’s bachelor’s degree in criminology, his certification in law enforcement, and his training of and close relationship with his former students have prepared him to work closely with and understand the needs and concerns of officers trying to keep the public safe.

Third, the state attorney must be a person of integrity. Personal interests or politics must never take priority over his commitment to the people. The office belongs to the people, not the elected individual.

Jarvis has been married for 39 years to Pamela Manasco Jarvis, who works at Cheek and Scott Drugs in Live Oak. They have two daughters, Beth Jarvis Cohen and Sara Jarvis Patton, and five grandchildren.

He received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy.

Being a long time resident and property owner in Suwannee County, Jarvis says he has a vested interest in seeing that the citizens receive the best representation and protection available, coupled with a responsibility to them for every dollar spent.

For more information visit Jarvis’ website at www.skipjarvis.com.