Randall Jones, the Democratic nominee for Pinellas County Sheriff, doesn't want the endorsement of his Pinellas Fraternal Order pf Police Lodge 43.

Not only does he not want it; Jones has now issued a statement saying he's upset that his name is even being considered on the literature that the FOP has circulated among its membership.

He thinks it makes it look like he's going back on his word that he would not seek or accept the nomiation.

The spat goes back to the primary race, where FOP Lodge 43 endorsed John Pikramenos for the Democratic primary.

Jones said that he was never interviewed before that endorsement and he thinks the only reason that Pikramenos was selected is that he and his campaign staff are tight with the board of the lodge.

Jones went on to win the primary with about 60 percent of the vote.

Speaking of the propspect that the lodge might still endorse him, Jones said: "They're not properly representing the members of the FOP therefore this would not be a true reflection of what I stand for or my candidacy."

Dan Karron, president of the lodge, said Jones never came to ask for the group's endorsement. "He never asked for it. He doesn’t recognize the FOP. Why he said that, I don’t know. I’m not going to go beg people to talk to us."

--Jonathan Abel and Will Van Sant, Times staff writers