Couch wins runoff for Hall County sheriff

GAINESVILLE - It was just prior to 9 p.m. Tuesday night at The Elks Club in Gainesville that the results became clear: Gerald Couch had been elected Hall County sheriff.

Couch bested fellow candidate Jeff Strickland earning approximately 55 percent of the vote to Strickland's 45 percent.

Couch addressed the crowd of supporters that had been gathering throughout the night.

"This journey started a little over seven months ago and we reached our goal," Couch said, "that's a great thing. We have a lot of great things in store for us for the Hall County Sheriff's office and the citizens of this county. If we can have good leadership, we can move forward once again.

"I'm so proud of everyone that has supported me, I'm very honored by that and also very humbled by that."

Couch will take over for Steve Chronic and will assume duties January 1.

Meanwhile, in Oakwood where Couch's opponent Jeff Strickland was housed at Curt's Cafeteria with supporters, it was also shortly before 9 p.m. when it became clear he would not taste victory.

"Tomorrow morning when I walk into Curt's to get a bologna sandwich I'll be able to hold my head high," Strickland said.

"We worked very hard in this campaign; we ran a clean campaign."