Former Orange-Osceola top prosecutor Aramis Ayala to run for attorney general

Former state attorney for Orange and Osceola counties, Aramis Ayala, is making a run for Florida attorney general.

The Florida Division of Elections website shows Ayala now taking on incumbent Ashley Moody and fellow Democrat Jim Lewis. Ayala made national news while top prosecutor for the Ninth Judicial Circuit when she announced she would not seek the death penalty against Markeith Loyd, who was convicted last year for killing Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton. Lloyd was sentenced to death recently.

Before deciding to run for Florida attorney general, Ayala was planning to run for U.S. House District 10, the Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Val Demings, who is running for Senate against incumbent Marco Rubio.

Rick Scott, who was governor at the time, took death penalty cases away from Ayala’s office and moved them to another state attorney, including Loyd’s case.

Ayala also helped form a coalition to help domestic violence awareness and to fight against child abuse ..