SHERIFF HEGE TO RUN AGAIN

He Endorses Four Candidates Running For Commissioners

LEXINGTON -- Davidson County Sheriff Gerald Hege's political machine kicked
into gear yesterday as he filed for re-election and endorsed four
candidates for the county board of commissioners.

Hege, 53, is running for his third-term in office. A Republican, he brought
an entourage of supporters along with him to the board of elections,
including family members, more than 12 deputies and sheriff's office
employees, and county commissioner candidates.

In a news conference after he filed, Hege said he plans to campaign for
John Faust, Don Truell, Sam Watford and Paul Housand for the four open
county-commissioner seats.

"It's easier to win a slate than individually," Hege said. He endorsed
several candidates in other races when he ran in 1998.

Faust, 62, a barber from Midway and Don Truell, 65, the former Thomasville
mayor and police chief, filed with Hege yesterday. Faust is the father of
David Faust, the chairman of the Davidson County Republican Party. He said
he is running because there are no commissioners on the board from northern
Davidson County, one of the fastest growing areas of the county.

Truell ran unsuccessfully last November for mayor in Thomasville. He said
he wants to get back into public work and feels his law-enforcement
training would benefit the county.

Hege presented the candidates as supporters of stronger law-enforcement and
fiscally conservative. Most of the current board of commissioners,
including two members he handpicked in 1998, don't share his ideas on law
enforcement, Hege said.

"I just can't support somebody who doesn't support law enforcement," he said.

The commissioners need to increase the starting salaries for deputies,
lower the age that deputies can retire and still receive health insurance,
and provide more training for firefighters and other emergency workers,
Hege said.

The candidates who appeared with Hege said they hope that the sheriff's
name recognition will help them win the elections. None of them were
concerned about the controversies that racked the sheriff's office last
year, including the three deputies who were arrested for distributing
drugs, a controversial Christmas card and his policy on high-speed chases.

Still, some officials question whether riding the sheriff's coattails is a
good political strategy.

Hege eliminated some of his opponents in the past few years by campaigning
against them, but other elected officials have stood firm. Hege's
candidates for U.S. House in the 12th District and the county register of
deeds lost in 1998. And one of his most vocal opponents, former District
Attorney Eugene Morris, carried Davidson County in 1998 with 52 percent of
the county's votes despite Hege's criticism of him. Morris lost the race
because he didn't carry the other counties that make up the 22nd Judicial
District.

"I don't think people in this county want the sheriff to pick the
commissioners," said Commissioner Fred McClure, who is running for re-election.

McClure said he's not too worried about Hege's endorsement. The
commissioners don't always agree with Hege, but they have supported his
office, he said.

"I think we've provided the sheriff with everything he wanted and some
things he didn't request," McClure said.

Since 1994, when he was first elected, Hege's budget has more than doubled
from $5.1 million to $10.7 million.

Seven people have filed to run for sheriff this year, more than in any
other year in recent history.