Newly-elected Monroe County Sheriff Randy White is out of a job after a ruling by a Chancery Court judge voided his August election to the post.
Monroe County officials now must figure out how to fill the vacant sheriff's post now that White, the challenger who on Aug. 7 defeated incumbent sheriff Bill Bivens by 703 votes, was unseated by the ruling on Wednesday.
Special Judge Don Ash ruled in favor of Bivens in his suit challenging White's qualifications to run for sheriff based on lack of meeting legal requirements that candidates have three years of law enforcement experience in the last 10 years, according to documents filed in Monroe County Chancery Court.
Ash declared the election results void and referred the vacancy to the county commission to fill the seat or order a new election, according to court documents.
Ash found that White had only worked two years and 349 days in full-time law enforcement of the three years required under Police Officer Standards & Training Commission rules.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com ortwitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.