A well-known former sheriff’s deputy officially announced his intention today to run for the county’s top law enforcement position in 2026.
Joshua McPherson worked as a deputy for Columbus County and later was made director of Animal Protective Services under Sheriff Jody Greene. When Greene was reelected in 2022 and forced out of office in 2023, McPherson was demoted to a court bailiff position by Bill Rogers, who was appointed to replace Greene. McPherson then left the county employ and returned to farming.
“Having been approached and asked on numerous occasions via in person, telephone and messages where I intend to run for the office of sheriff…I am now in a position to offer a direct response: ‘Yes’.
“I ask for prayers for myself and my family as everyone knows how elections seem to turn people’s hearts cold trying to deceive people.”
“I ask that no matter the circumstances that we be respectful and keep our language clean.”
McPherson is the first candidate to step out for what is expected to be an aggressive showdown between Democrats and Republicans.
Greene was the first Republican sheriff elected here in modern history. His victory over Lewis Hatcher in 2018 – Hatcher, a Democrat, was the first black sheriff here – was the subject of a court battle.
Another former sheriff’s employee is rumored to be jockeying for the Democrat nomination for sheriff.
Jason Soles, a Democrat and sheriff’s captain who worked for Hatcher, then Greene, ran against Greene in 2022. Soles released secret recordings of Greene weeks before the election. The recordings were part of a petition filed by District Attorney Jon David to removed Greene from office. Greene resigned, but was overwhelmingly reelected.
Soles has not publicly stated if he plans to try another shot at the sheriff’s position.
Retired Trooper Bill Rogers was appointed by the county commissioners to fill in until Greene was sworn in that January. When Greene was again forced to resign, Rogers was appointed to serve the full four years. Rogers – who was registered unaffiliated, but changed to Republican – has not publicly said if he will run for election.
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