Joe Mahan, a former Miami County sheriff’s chief deputy, announced Jan. 5 he’ll seek the sheriff’s job as an independent candidate.

Mahan, a Troy resident, would face the winner of the Republican primary March 15 in the November general election. The deadline for independents to file is March 14.

Four candidates have filed as Republicans and will face off in the primary.

They are: current Chief Deputy Dave Duchak, retired sheriff’s Capt. Steve Cooper, retired Troy police Capt. Chris Anderson and former deputy Paul Reece.

Mahan said he believes the office of sheriff should be a nonpartisan position.

Sheriff Charles Cox is retiring at year’s end after more than 25 years in the office.

Mahan has spent over 38 years in law enforcement with more than 29 of the years with the sheriff’s office. He retired as chief deputy in 2006 after he first was terminated by Cox, who said he couldn’t have an employee running for his job. Mahan said he had been told by Cox he wasn’t seeking re-election and then apparently changed his mind.

He ran unsuccessfully against Cox in 2008.

“After much personal deliberation and a lot of soul searching, I have decided I can no longer be silent as I watch what has been going on in this agency, and in this county,” Mahan said in making his announcement. “I cannot just sit back and watch as the agency to which I dedicated almost 30 years of my life struggles because of a lack of leadership.”

Mahan said he would address several areas in his campaign in more detail following the primary election. Among areas he mentioned were:  the courts and jail, sheriff’s office personnel and the public.

He holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Sinclair Community College, a bachelor’s degree from Tiffin University and graduated from the Northwestern Staff and Command School.

He is the commander of the Basic Police Officer Academy at Edison Community College, Piqua, and in a Jackson Center police officer.

For more information, visit his website www.ElectMahanSheriff.com and his Facebook page at Elect Mahan Sheriff.