Hamilton County Republicans chose former Chief Deputy Sheriff Jim Hammond as their sheriff candidate at a convention on Thursday night.
He won a runoff over Rep. Vince Dean 148-134.
They were the top votegetters after the first round of balloting among 303 delegates at the convention at the East Ridge Community Center.
There were 282 voters in the final balloting.
Mr. Hammond had 117 votes and Rep. Dean 104 after the first round, and the remaining votes were split among three other contenders.
Other candidates were former Chattanooga Police Major Crimes Lt. Tim Carroll (21 votes), Red Bank Police Chief Ronnie Dodd (32 votes) and Lt. Fred Fuson (30 votes).
Mr. Hammond will be on the ballot on Aug. 7 along with County Commissioner Greg Beck - the choice of the Democrats - and Independent Jim Winters.
Chief Deputy Allen Branum has been running the sheriff's office since the shocking arrest of Sheriff Billy Long on federal charges.
Rep. Dean, if he had been selected, was not planning to seek re-election to his House District 30 post.
Rep. Dean was nominated by his father, Rev. Billy Dean. He told of he and his wife adopting a son - Vince Dean - at age three. Billy Dean said, "My wife and I know he's not perfect. But he has never embarrassed us, and he won't embarrass you."
The five candidates had made presentations at a forum in East Brained on Monday night.
Rep. Dean had a long career with the Chattanooga Police Department, and he was mayor of East Ridge before taking the seat held by the late Jack Sharp.
Former County Commissioner Harold Coker introduced Mr. Hammond, who ran twice as a Democratic candidate for sheriff. Mr. Coker said Mr. Hammond has been a Republican for three years.
He told a story of when he was county GOP chairman in 1978. He said Dalton Roberts came to him wanting to run as a Republican, but he said party leaders would not go along with it.
Mr. Coker said, "We made a mistake then," and he said the party should embrace former Democrat Hammond.
Lt. Carroll was introduced by Jeff Lewis, Mr. Dodd by a Sale Creek neighbor and Lt. Fuson by his Avondale pastor.
Mr. Hammond has spent the last several years in the Middle East training troops there.
Mr. Hammond started his talk by giving a public apology to County School Board member Chester Bankston.
Mr. Hammond had sent out a letter on Thursday to precinct chairmen in which he mentioned a "troublemaker" being escorted out of Monday night's meeting. He said it was Chester Bankston.
Mr. Hammond told the audience he had been mistaken, and it was actually another Chester.