Created: 11/5/2009 12:33:25 PM 
Lexington, NC -- The name of a candidate on campaign signs across one part of the Triad is causing a stir.
The race isn't until next year, but signs already have people wondering if a convicted felon is running for sheriff in Davidson County.
WFMY News 2's Mac Ingraham spoke exclusively to the man behind the name.
The state constitution says he can run again.
You may remember Gerald Hege as the "no deals sheriff" - - with the spider patrol car - - the pink jail cells - - and the chain gangs.
The former Davidson County Sheriff pleaded guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice while in office and was removed from the job.
Now, some voters in the county want him back.
Gerald Hege meets with friends most weekday mornings for coffee and conversation.
But six months ago - - Hege says some of those friends started saying he should run again.
Soon after - - they asked for campaign signs.
He gave them some but told them it didn't mean he'd run for sure.
"I'll bring 5 old yard signs and if you guys put them up and if I get five calls the same day then we would be rolling," explained Hege.
The phone messages started pouring in - -
"My dad wanted me to tell you he really hopes you run again he thinks you're the best sheriff we've ever had," expressed one caller.
"Those signs don't have a lot of phone numbers on them so for someone to be curious enough to go back look up in the book call me about it I said you know that will get a lot of people talking and we got 21 calls the first night," said Hege.
"I've got a lot of people that wants to vote for you including me," said another caller.
What started with just a couple of old signs planted the seeds for new signs ... With Hege footing the bill to meet the demand.
"It's a phenomenal thing it really is it blows my mind," Hege exclaimed.
In fact when we were with the former sheriff --- and the spider car he once patrolled in he drew a crowd.
WFMY News 2's Mac Ingraham asked if people are pushing him to run.
"Oh, sure. I mean that's how when people call you that's different from knocking on someone's door and saying I'm running for office how about voting for me," answered Hege. "And people want these signs. First they want one or two then they want 10 or 12. Now we're at almost a 1000 signs. For a politician, that is unheard of. That is a dream come true. That is something that money can't buy for someone to ask you for a sign."
Now Hege did serve house arrest and three years of probation for the two obstruction of justice convictions.
He admits he misses the job of sheriff.
The question is does he have enough support to really get back in office.
It's so unusual that a state senator realized something should be done to keep it from happening.
"Gerald," News 2's Mac Ingraham asked the former sheriff, "we've seen the signs. We've heard the rumors. We're here now to ask you 'Are you running for sheriff in 2010?'"
"Well, I will be a candidate for sheriff in 2010 as a Republican. as a conservative Republican," answered Hege.
It's a far cry from how he left office six years ago after pleaded guilty to those two obstruction of justice charges.
"It wasn't a good day. It wasn't a good day, but you know the laws are made for everyone and I've always been a firm believer you know if you do the crime you do the time."
Hege did his time including 3 year's probation and a 3-month house arrest
He reflects on the 13 other charges dropped by state prosecutors including embezzlement - - obtaining property by false pretenses -- and wire tapping.
"I wouldn't plead guilty to those. - I would go to jail first because it was things I absolutely had nothing to do with," said Hege.
"You don't go after someone for that long to drop 13 charges. There's only one way they drop it they can't win," he added.
So, Hege has been speaking in churches, meeting with supporters, and delivering campaign signs to begin his bid to return to the office of sheriff.
But - - opponents say not so fast.
"I got the petition for removal and I got all the sworn testimony and here it is," State Senator Stan Bingham began.
Bingham wanted a law to prevent felons from running for sheriff.
But he realized - - it would require an amendment to the state constitution which rarely happens.
"That sheriffs are excluded meaning that anyone serving as sheriff can be a felon when they've served their time etc. - even though they can never carry a firearm," he elaborated.
Senator Bingham believes the decision will come down to the voters.
But he says although the state dropped those 13 other charges the voters shouldn't let it go without reading the public case against the sheriff.
"You know if we had no one else to run and this had been one felony count rather than 15 and we had one page of testimony against someone who had a grudge against Gerald but this is 113 pages of testimony 34 officers so for goodness sakes," stated Bingham.
Officers also testified to working on county time to raise money for the former sheriff's non-profit Blue Line Foundation - - and they alleged a misuse of funds by Hege.
"A lot of the officers when you read through this were under the fear of intimidation of losing their jobs," Bingham added.
"My thing is like this you know when you punish the dog it's punishment, but when you beat the dog constantly it's cruelty. And it comes a point in time you've got to stop beating the dog," argued Hege.
Hege brushes off that testimony because he was never convicted of any of it.
But he does agree - - the voters will decide.
"I want to at least be able to lay down at night and say well I gave them a chance to tell me what they want me to do. And once they speak you got to listen. I've listened for three times and that's what I'll do the next time," Hege concluded.
Ingraham asked the former sheriff if he will do things differently if he returns to office.
He said the one major change will be he'll have an attorney - a personal attorney -- sitting across the hallway from him that he'll retain himself.
Right now, as a felon Hege wouldn't be able to carry a gun as sheriff if elected.
Well last month an ex-con challenged that law and the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of him.
Hege - -believes that ruling could allow him to carry a gun if elected sheriff.
As for these court documents we have put them online below for viewers to look at and make up their own minds.
Read affidavits and court documents from the case against Gerald Hege
Gerald Hege faces a number of candidates if he files to run for the office.
Incumbent Sheriff David Grice says he will be a candidate for re-election next year.
Grice says, "The sheriff's office is doing an excellent job, and we feel that the citizens of our county will recognize that good work with their support at election time."
Terry Price is another republican candidate planning to run for sheriff.
