Peachtree – Chris Wood will be recommended to be sheriff to finish Dustin Smith’s term. In office after a vote of the Cherokee County Republican Party executive committee on Thursday.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners is expected to appoint Wood sheriff at a special called meeting at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Cherokee County Courthouse.
A swearing-in ceremony is planned for 8 a.m. Monday at the courthouse, presided by Superior Court Judge Tessa Sellers. The ceremony includes not just Wood but every sworn member of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office because there is a new sheriff.
Wood, a retired highway patrol lieutenant, and Sam May, a home generator installer and Army veteran, both of whom are running for sheriff in the March 3 Republican primary, applied for the position.
The vote of the executive committee was held privately and specifics of how the committee voted were not revealed. The committee interviewed the two candidates before going into closed session.
The entire process lasted a little over an hour.
Wood will serve as the appointed sheriff until Dec. 1, filling out Smith’s term in office. Smith resigned as sheriff earlier this month at the urging of District Attorney Ashley Welch, who said she had lost confidence in Smith’s leadership following two years of problems.
Check out the Feb. 25 edition of the Cherokee Scout for a full report, and on cherokeescout.com following the print edition.