Former N.C. sheriff runs again, this time as felon

Posted to: News North Carolina
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The Associated Press
© February 10, 2010

LEXINGTON, N.C.

A former North Carolina sheriff who claimed national notice for tough-on-crime tactics and later admitted to felony crimes is running again.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that Gerald Hege has filed to seek election as Davidson County sheriff.

The Republican resigned as sheriff in 2004 after a decade in office and pleaded guilty to two felony counts of obstruction of justice. Prosecutors say Hege tried to cover up money missing from his department's vice and narcotics unit.

His probation ended in 2007, but he is barred from owning a gun.

As sheriff, Hege starred on a national cable television program highlighting what he called America's toughest jail, where he painted cells pink. He drove a high-powered car and removed television sets and books from the jail.

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Do we need to know that he is a Republican or Democrat?

Submitted by oracledbatobe on Wed, 02/10/2010 at 11:54 am.

Is it absolutely necessary to know whether he was a Democrat or Republican? I mean the fact that this guy cannot vote but can be elected is an oxymoron but just a small blip on the radar of what is wrong with our election system. We can now tell ourselves that we don't trust the politician, the election process, or the rules that allow anyone to run for office. I seriously dont expect my child to care about registering to vote by the time she comes of age. If it's a joke now... it will be a comic strip event for her.