Incumbent Chatham County Sheriff Al St Lawrence contends his opponent, Col. McArthur Holmes, is improperly using official symbols of the office in his campaign and wants it stopped.
The contentions, contained in a lawsuit filed Friday in Chatham County Superior Court, are scheduled for a hearing Wednesday before Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Court Judge Cynthia J. Becker after local judges recused themselves from hearing the matter.
Holmes, who retired from the sheriff’s department last year with the rank of colonel, is running as a Democrat against his former boss, a Republican, in the Nov. 6 General Election.
St Lawrence’s lawyer, Steven Scheer, contends the Holmes continues to use the “official uniform, seal and flag of the Chatham County Sheriff’s office” in direct violation of the law.
The sheriff said his earlier requests that Holmes cease and desist using those symbols have been ignored.
He said the continued use of those symbols “improperly implies the endorsement” of the sheriff’s office in the campaign without approval or endorsement of the sheriff.
The suit asks a judge to immediately issue an order prohibiting Holmes from continued use of the symbols and for civil penalties and damages.
Holmes’ attorney, Sage Brown, declined to comment on the suit Tuesday pending today’s hearing.