New deputy forced to give up council office

To avoid the no-no of holding a dual office, a new deputy sheriff in Oconee County must forefeit his remaining time as a member of the West Union Town Council. Joy Scharich, director of Oconee Elections, last night announced that David Scealf’s resignation as a West Union councilman will create the need for a special election to fill his unexpired term. That special election, she says, will take place in September. Sheriff Mike Crenshaw says Scealf is one of the newly-hired deputies and is assigned to uniform patrol duty. State law prohibits dual office holding. Crenshaw says appointed deputy sheriffs are considered extensions of an elected sheriff.