Don’t believe either of them. As surely as the sun rose this morning in the eastern sky, the effort calling for a state constitutional amendment banning felons from holding a county sheriff’s office is all about Gerald Hege.
Elected sheriff three times, Hege resigned in 2004 after pleading guilty to two felony obstruction of justice charges. He’s seeking the Republican nomination for sheriff in a May 4 primary along with Sheriff David Grice, Terry Price and Edgar Shuler. Thomas Evans runs unopposed in the Democratic primary.
The bill calling for a constitutional amendment vote – introduced last March by State Sen. Stan Bingham of Denton – wouldn’t prevent Hege from serving if elected this November. However, he wouldn’t be able to run in 2014 if the constitutional amendment were approved by the state’s voters.
But Hege aside, this proposed constitutional ban on convicted felons as sheriffs is just a waste of voters’ time. We expect it’s rarely been and rarely would be a significant election issue. And were it ever to be one, the local voters certainly could take care of it as they see fit. Additionally, convicted felons who have served their penalties can hold other kinds of elected posts.
Candidate forums are great ways for the public to make up their minds about any candidate, felon or not. But Hege is planning not to attend a forum in Lexington tonight for sheriff’s candidates.
We understand Hege’s concern that such a forum could be an “anti-Hege meeting.” But if he wants to be sheriff again, he’s got to face the questions head-on. Hege is wrong not to attend tonight’s forum.
He is not attending the forum because he wouldn't control the show or answer real questions.
Just as YOU promised hard questions of Hege, the only thing you'd delivered is front page coverage of his view.
What about he other candidates? They certain;y don't get the front page over Hege's gripes, which are not worthy of front page coverage.
Be a newspaper that can print facts, not because "Hege makes for a good story". Stories, not facts.
Wonder what the side effects would be ?
Duh,
No Sheriff spending his sitting behind the desk forum ,or
No Sheriff with walkers forum , or
No Sheriff with 500 or less vote forum
No Sheriff who has been caught with a concealed weapon while drunk , and arrested the wrong person , and beat them forum. No anytime a Sheriff arrests enough people , your gonna make a few enemys and SHERIFF HEGE was not afraid to step on toes ,as you would see him doing his job every day and into the nite not hiding behind his desk.....................and he answers questions every day his office is open every day in Thomasville @ 605 Lexington Ave.Now try to find the rest of them..................