By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.— With all 13 precincts counted, John Penn Ridgeway has been elected Henry County Mayor and Josh Frey elected Henry County Sheriff.
Ridgeway won with 41.67 percent of the votes, of 6,057, holding off opponents Carlton Gerrell, with 35.84 percent, or 5,209 votes; and Tim Wirgau, at 22.38 percent or 3,253 votes.
Ridgeway ran as an Independent, with Gerrell endorsed by the Henry County GOP and Wirgau running as an Independent.
Ridgeway is Vice-President of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) in Paris and is a newcomer to politics. Ridgeway has a broad background, formerly working for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development and with the Tennessee River Trails Association where he has coordinated with the nine County Chamber Directors and County Mayors to facilitate tourism development in our area. At the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Ridgeway assisted dislocated workers and unemployed persons to access services and skills to better their lives.
He also is active in many local civic organizations and comes from a family that has long been involved in public service, including his father, former long-time State Rep. Don Ridgeway.
Ridgeway will replace long-time County Mayor Brent Greer, who earlier announced he would be retiring.
“What a great community we live in,” Ridgeway said after his victory was announced. “And now let’s work together to see it to even greater days.”
He said he plans to continue to use a positive approach. “This was definitely a tough year for campaigning, but my team tried some new things and spent lots of time reaching out to folks.”
Ridgeway said, “My family and I, along with our supporters, appreciate every vote, kind gesture and welcoming smile we have seen throughout the campaign.I am committed to work my hardest to represent all the people of Henry County. And my priorities will continue to be jobs, workforce education and development and to be honest, accessible and accountable. My promise is to work hard to represent every citizen of Henry County while maintaining the highest level of integrity and professionalism in the mayor’s office.”
Frey won by 53.65 percent, or 7,798 votes, over Interim Sheriff Damon Lowe, with 46.19 percent or 6,713 votes.
Frey was endorsed by the Henry County GOP while his Lowe ran as an Independent.
Frey also is a newcomer to local politics. Frey has lived in Henry County all his life and has 23 years’ experience in law enforcement and is a member of the Henry County Schools board of education. Frey noted he comes from a family of ‘dedicated public servants’ and he has sought to follow in those footsteps.
He began his career in 1997 as a Corrections Officer for the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and in 1999 was hired by the Paris Police Department. At the Paris PD, he has worked in many roles, including patrol, K9 patrol, investigations, special operations, and patrol lieutenant.
Frey thanked the voters for his election as Sheriff, noting it is “a true honor that you believe in my leadership enough to choose me.” Frey said he is humbled and grateful for the opportunity “to lead the best professional law enforcement department in the state of Tennessee, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. I appreciate your confidence in me.”
As promised in his campaign, Frey said he will lead with dedication, integrity and fairness and will implement changes that will benefit the department and the community. One of the changes he plans is to increase the number of officers on duty on each shift, he said, to better protect the citizens and the county.
He also pledged to be accessible and available to deputies, department staff, the community and its citizens and “will listen to concerns and work to find solutions” to problems.
Frey said he can be counted on to be transparent “to the greatest extent possible” and to serve through a “fair and equitable lens”. He said his priorities are simple: faith in God, his family and “a great” sheriff’s department.
In other contested races in Henry County:
Paris City Commission: John Etheridge was elected as Commissioner, with 38.61 percent, or 2,111 votes, while Paris Vice Mayor Jackie Jones was re-elected as Commissioner with 27.27 percent, or 1,491 votes. They beat opponents Earl Kendall, with 18.16 percent of the vote, and James Wyatt, with 15.53 percent.
Dustin Odom was elected mayor of the town of Henry with 59.49 percent of the vote, or 116 votes, beating Dane Allen, who received 38.97 percent or 76 votes.
Henry Aldermen: Keith Qualls, 32.89 percent of the vote; and Charles Barnes, 31.25 percent were elected to the Board of Aldermen, with Charlotte Barnes elected to the unexpired term with 92.12 percent of the vote.
Election Commission members and volunteers carry ballot boxes into the Elections Commission office Tuesday night. (Shannon McFarlin photo).