State Rep. Stan McClain recently received the Legislator of the Year award from the Florida Police Chiefs Association.
McClain offered thanks for the honor and called law enforcement officers the backbone of Florida communities.
“I have immense respect and appreciation for the challenging work they perform on behalf of their fellow citizens,” he said.
McClain, who has lived in Marion County for 33 years, said he received the award in recognition of his work on House Bill 165, which cracks down on online threats of terrorism or mass shootings.
“I was proud to stand with the FPCA and our entire law enforcement community in their important work of preventing tragedies like the ones we’ve seen this year,” he said.
Prior to being elected to the Florida House of Representatives, McClain served three terms on the Marion County Board of County Commissioners. A resident of Pedro, he represented The Villages as part of his district. And he is no stranger to Florida’s Friendliest Hometown, having spoken to a packed house at the Savannah Center in January 2016 as a guest of Community Development District 4 supervisors.
McClain was asked to address the law enforcement situation in Marion County after Villagers expressed concern over lack of patrols in the community and then-Sheriff Chris Blair waged a war against the commission over funding.
In April 2016, McClain was recognized by the Southwest Florida Management District for serving on a committee aimed at protecting spring systems. And while serving as Commission Chairman in October 2015, he was appointed to the I-75 Relief Task Force headed by the Florida Department of Transportation.
