WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – A former assistant to State Attorney Aramis Ayala on Tuesday publicly announced his bid to run against her in 2020.
Former Ninth Circuit Assistant State Attorney Ryan Williams filed with the Florida Division of Elections last Thursday to run against Ayala, who once announced that she would not seek the death penalty in any capital case before reversing her stance and appointing a committee to decide which cases potentially deserve to be tried in that manner.
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Then-Gov. Rick Scott removed homicide cases, including that of accused double murderer Markeith Loyd, from Ayala's office and turned them over to Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brad King.
[RELATED: Timeline in Markeith Loyd case]
Williams transferred from the Ninth Circuit to the Fifth Circuit to prosecute the homicide cases removed from her office and is currently a prosecution unit leader.
Williams made his official announcement in his hometown of Winter Garden at the Plant Street Oval.
Williams graduated from Rollins College and the North Carolina School of Law. He's been a prosecutor for nearly 11 years.
Ayala said in a statement to News 6 she would continue to focus on serving the Central Florida community.
"It is important to avoid distractions and respond to things that are legitimate and worthy of a response," Ayala said. "I will continue to lead this community in seeking justice. I remain in the fight for change and progress. Most importantly, I remain focused on the job I have, not the job someone else wants ..."
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