Stratton Assumes Ripley County Sheriff After Winning GOP Caucus

By Mike Perleberg (Versailles, Ind.) – A new Ripley County Sheriff was elected during a Republican party caucus held Tuesday evening. Rodney Stratton received the majority of voted from 22 precinct committee members in the caucus staged in the Ripley County Courthouse Annex Building in Versailles, says Ripley County GOP Chairwoman Ginger Bradford. Stratton won the caucus vote over Ripley County Sheriff’s Corporal Rob Bradley, who had been named interim sheriff following Tom Grills’ departure in March. Stratton retired from a long career with the Indiana State Police in February. FIND MORE LOCAL POLITICAL AND ELECTION NEWS ON EAGLE 99.3'S INDIANA VOTES 2014 WEBPAGE. Stratton was sworn into office immediately, however, his career as Ripley County’s Sheriff will be a brief one. He only has to serve the remaining eight months of Grills’ term. Grills, who was term-limited from seeking re-election this year, announced his retirement in March so that he could take a job in the private sector. Stratton is not among the candidates seeking the sheriff’s office in 2014. Three Republicans wanting the parting nomination in the May 6 primary election are Bradley, Jeff Cumberworth, and Joe Mann. Tim Sutton and Josh Thompson are the two Democrat candidates running for sheriff. The Republican and Democrat party winners will run against each other in the November general election, with the winner of that race taking office on January 1, 2015. RELATED STORIES: Ripley County Sheriff Leaving Office Early Indiana Votes 2014