Jim Winters said he got the cold shoulder from Democrats, and he will resume his quest for sheriff as an Independent.

Mr. Winters said he was told the night before Saturday's Democratic convention by Rodney Strong that if he was not chosen by the Democrats, he could not be a sheriff candidate.

The Democrats chose County Commissioner Greg Beck at their Saturday morning convention.

Mr. Winters said he was resigned to being out of the race after getting a website built and taking other steps, then he said he was told at the election office he can still run as an Independent.

Charlotte Mullis of the election office said Mr. Winters never picked up a Democratic petition - only an Independent petition. She said he has qualified to run and will be on the ballot.

Ms. Mullis said he and Commissioner Beck are the only two official candidates thus far. But she said a host of others have picked up petitions.

She said the Republicans will send her their nominee, then the rest can run as Independents.

Others picking up papers include Rep. Vince Dean, Jim Hammond, Lt. Tim Carroll, retired Lt. Fred Fuson, Phillip Metcalf, Jim Swafford, Tom Benson, Anthony Chapman, Timothy Akins and Roger Konieczny.

The deadline to have qualifying petitions in is April 3.

The election is Aug. 7.

Mr. Winters said he started out as an Independent, then went to the Democrats when he heard they did not have a candidate. He said his father and grandfather were Democrats, and he said he welcomed the organizational skills of the party.

He said he talked with Mr. Strong, who is an assistant district attorney who ran for Criminal Court judge as a Democrat, as well as Party Chairman John Bailes. He said he also met with Chris Anderson at party headquarters.

He said when he went to a meeting with party officials, he noticed that County Commissioner Beck was also there.

He said party officials indicated they wanted Commissioner Beck to stay on the County Commission because they were afraid Republicans might win his seat on the commission.

Mr. Winters said the night before the convention, he got the call from Mr. Strong telling him there was a state law that would keep him from running if he did not get the Democratic nod.

Mr. Winters said he thought about the situaion all night and decided the next morning to go to the convention anyway. He said he was allowed to make a five-minute talk, then Commissioner Beck was chosen.

He said, "I was very disappointed with my experience. Nobody was friendly. It was sort of a bad deal. I thought I had thrown it all away."

Then he said he talked with Ms. Mullis and found out he can continue his campaign.

Mr. Winters said, "I feel like I'm the best candidate in the field. I have the business experience and the law enforcement experience."