There'll soon be new sheriffs in Athens area towns. Multiple sheriffs not seeking re-election
The year 2024 will be an important election for several northeast Georgia counties where longtime sheriffs have made a decision not to seek re-election.
A few sitting sheriffs in the region may also face competition for their jobs.
Incumbent sheriffs in Jackson, Franklin, Elbert, and Hart counties have all decided not to seek re-election.
While a number of possible candidates have announced intentions to run, those candidacies won’t be official until qualifying takes place prior to the spring primaries.
A fifth possible opening could happen in Stephens County, where incumbent Sheriff Randy Shirley has not made an announcement on his plans. Shirley has been the sheriff since 2008.
However, a Stephens County commissioner, Dennis Bell, announced in October that he will run for sheriff and not another term on the commission. Bell is deeply involved in county politics and has served as police chief in the cities of Arcade, Franklin Springs and Comer.
One of the first sheriffs to announcement a retirement was Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum, who said in late July that she would not seek a fourth term.
Within weeks, three men announced their candidacies in Jackson County, one of the largest populated counties in northeast Georgia.
Dale Dillow, a former investigator in the office; Kevin McCook, the current training officer for the sheriff; and, Chris Nichols, a police officer for the Athens-Clarke Police Department, all have said they will seek the office.
When former sheriff Stan Evans announced he would not seek re-election in 2012, Mangum was one of seven candidates seeking the job.
More recently, Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas said he would not seek re-election after serving 20 years as the sheriff.
In the wake of his announcement, two candidates, retired Georgia State Patrol trooper Scott Andrews and current Franklin deputy Brian Stovall, stepped forward as candidates.
Recently, Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland told news outlets he would not seek another term. He has been the sheriff for the past 23 years in a county where many folks from Atlanta to Athens have a second home on Lake Hartwell.
Chris Carroll, the chief investigator for Cleveland, has announced his intentions to replace his boss.
In Elbert County, Sheriff Melvin Andrews will not seek a fourth term in office, according to a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office.
In Athens, Tommy Dorsey, a veteran officer now working for the Clarke County School District Police Department, has announced he will run against Clarke County Sheriff John Q. Williams, who is in his first term of office. Williams plans to run again.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Change on horizon for sheriff's offices in northeast Georgia
