A longtime central Kentucky sheriff running for state representative will leave office at the end of the month. Tony Hampton, a Republican, has been the sheriff of Scott County for 14 years. He said he’s making at the move at the advice of the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority’s legal counsel, who told him he should retire by the end of October. “Number one, I have to. Number two, I might as well go ahead and retire a month sooner so I can spend that time campaigning. So, you know, I don’t want anybody to think that I’m taking it for granted.” Hampton is running against Democrat Kevin Kidwell, a retired Georgetown police officer. Kidwell told WEKU the retirement board advised him to step down by the end of July — and he did. Scott County’s judge-executive appointed Chief Deputy Jeremy Nettles to finish Hampton’s term, which runs through 2026. ** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation. The post Scott County Sheriff steps down to focus on state House race appeared first on The Lexington Times.