Everett Rice announced Tuesday that will not accept the pension he earned from his last stint as Pinellas County Sheriff if successful in winning election to return to the post. In a news release, Rice said he wanted to end any controversy about him double-dipping by collecting his salary as Sheriff on top of the pension.

Rice, 67, spent 16 years as Pinellas County Sheriff before leaving office five years ago. He is challenging Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, a fellow Republican, whom the governor appointed over Rice last year when Jim Coats retired.

See below for Rice's news release.