DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. -- Former Davidson County Sheriff Gerald Hege has filed to become sheriff again.

14 years ago Hege stepped down after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice following a probe of improprieties at his department.

"I made a mistake, and I've always been one if  you make a mistake, you take the heat, you do it, and move on," says Hege. 

Hege, who recently had his record expunged, says he decided to run for office again after hearing about a woman being assaulted in broad daylight near his home.

"At one point we had the lowest crime rate in North Carolina," reflects Hege, who thinks he can help return the county to its former glory. 

Though Hege is optimistic in his abilities to do the job, the community has mixed feelings about the idea. 

A local we spoke to said, "How are you going to be a convicted felon and arrest criminals?"

But another, who remembered the days when Hege was sheriff said, "Personally, I don't have a problem with it, I thought he made a good sheriff." 

Two other Republicans -- Richie Simmons and Greg Wood -- have also filed for to run for sheriff in Davidson County.