Loudon
County sheriff, Tim Guider announced Monday night that he will not be
running for re-election in 2022.Sheriff Guider was in attendance at Monday's county commission meeting to update commission on the new jail. He reported that the new jai will be opening September 28th. After reporting on the jail, I asked the sheriff if in fact he was not going to seek re-election. After a short hesitation, he said he will be retiring at the end of this term.
Guider was elected as sheriff in 1990. At the end of this term, September, 2022, Guider will have held the office for 32 years, making him the longest serving sheriff in Loudon County history.
After his announcement, I also asked him if he was going to be supporting any candidate for the office. He said he was "torn". He said his first cousin, Dennis, Dino, Guider is running for sheriff and his (Dino's) dad, Ernie Guider was his mentor. Ernie Guider was Loudon County sheriff from 1962-1968. He also said the Jimmy, Chief Deputy Jimmy Davis, has been with me for a long time. He said he wasn't going to publically support either one of them but told both of them to "keep it clean". He said he would stay neutral, unless one of them makes him mad, with a chuckle.
There has been speculation for some time that Tim would not be running for re-election. At least four candidates have already let it be known that would be running for the office. Lenoir City police officer, Dennis, Dino, Guider and Paul Curtis have already filed preliminary paperwork to run for the office. Chief Deputy Jimmy Davis and Loudon City police officer, Marty Ward have also launched their campaigns.
Sheriff Guider also assured commission that he would not be retiring early but would fill out his complete term. He said the voters elected him for a four year term in 2018, and good Lord willing, he will serve out that term.
Loudon County has not had an open seat sheriff's election in decades. This should prove to be a very interesting election in 2022.