DAVIDSON COUNTY – A day after easily winning the Republican Primary against former Davidson County Sheriff Gerald Hege, incumbent David Grice said he is happy with Tuesday’s outcome.

“I am very pleased,” he said. “I thought we would get probably 50 or 51 percent, but with the margin of victory, I think the voters of Davidson County sent a very clear message that this was an exceptional endorsement for my candidacy. I appreciate all the Republican and unaffiliated votes that we received.”

According to the unofficial results, Grice received 61 percent, or 9,361 votes, to defeat Hege, who received 24 percent, or 3,838 votes. Terry Price, a retired state trooper, finished third with 14 percent, or 2,274 votes, and Edgar Shuler, a former Davidson County Sheriff’s Office lieutenant, received less than 1 percent, or 93 votes. A canvass of the sheriff race will be held Tuesday, said Ruth Huneycutt, director of the Davidson County Board of Elections.

With all of the attention on the sheriff race during the primary, Grice said the campaign was one of his hardest. Grice was first appointed to the post of sheriff by the Republican Party in 2004 to fill the seat of Hege. Grice retained the office of sheriff in 2006 for a four-year term with an election victory over Roy Holman.

Hege, who resigned after pleading guilty to two felony counts of obstruction of justice, re-emerged in November when he announced his intentions to run for sheriff. He told WXII 12 News on Tuesday night that he is going to retire from politics.

“We’re surprised about it,” Hege said in an interview with the television station. “We thought we’d get more people out. We’re disappointed, but the people have spoken and we’re going to listen. This is the end. I’m retiring from it.”

Hege could not be reached by The High Point Enterprise on Wednesday.

Grice will face off against Democrat Tommy Evans on the November ballot. Grice and Evans also may have a challenge from Thomasville resident Don Swink, who says he has enough signatures to be on the ballot as an unaffiliated candidate.

“I am genuinely humbled by the turnout of the unaffiliated voters and all the words of encouragement that I received from the Democrat voters who couldn’t vote for me, but said they would in the fall,” Grice said.

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