Chris Green to Run Again for Smith County Sheriff

TYLER — A familiar face is throwing his hat back in the ring for the position of Smith County sheriff. KETK reports that former Game Warden Chris Green, 53, announced Wednesday at the Smith County Courthouse Annex that he would run for sheriff in 2016. In 2012, Green ran against Donn Rust, Bobby Garmon, and current Sheriff Larry Smith. A runoff between Green and Smith was required with Smith, a former ATF agent, walking away with 53 percent of the vote. Rust was a former deputy constable with Smith County Precinct 3, and Garmon held the position of chief deputy under past sheriff J.B. Smith. After conceding to Smith in the previous runoff, Green began working as a landman.

During the last election, the Smith County Tea Party Special Elections Committee formed in support of Green. The committee claimed it formed to support Green in the runoff election and said the candidate was wrongfully attacked by “certain interest groups.” It is unclear if the committee will resurface. An anti-Green group also formed. Smith had the unanimous support of the conservative group Grassroots America – We the People. A statement from Grassroots America during the election campaign said, in part, “We take the political process very seriously and thoroughly vet the candidates by checking into their stated qualifications, credentials, training, experience and records.” Smith has not publicly stated whether or not he will seek a second term.