Hege files to run for Davidson sheriff

LEXINGTON (Winston-Salem Journal) - Former Davidson County sheriff Gerald Hege filed today to run for the same office from which he was forced to resign in 2004.

In May 2004 Hege pleaded guilty to two felony counts of obstruction of justice in connection with allegations of corruption within his department.

Hege had been charged with 15 felony counts. Garry Frank, the district attorney for Davidson County, gathered sworn affidavits from more than 30 sheriff's deputies and associates of Hege's and used them as the basis of the criminal charges. He never served prison time, and his probation ended in 2007.

Hege, a Republican, filed just before noon today at the Davidson County Board of Elections. He said he entered the race because he feels he is a "natural-born crime fighter."

"I love it," he said of being sheriff. "I thought I did a good job at it."

Incumbent Sheriff David Grice, also a Republican, said today that he plans to file for re-election on Monday. A third Republican candidate, Terry Stephen Price, is the only other person to file for the office.