The race for Hall County sheriff has one fewer candidate.

Chad Cobb, who announced in July that he planned to seek the position, announced his withdrawal Sunday.

"When I made this decision (to run)," Cobb wrote in a news release, "I promised my family and friends that if the right person entered the race I would back out of the running and give them my endorsement and full support in the upcoming election."

Cobb wrote that he feels Gerald Couch is this person.

Those still in the race include Richard Blevins, former Forsyth County Sheriff's deputy; Couch, formerly of the Gainesville Police Department and Hall County Sheriff's Office; Chuck Hewett, a veteran of the Hall sheriff's office; John Sisk, formerly of Gainesville Police and the Hall sheriff's office; Col. Jeff Strickland, former chief deputy of the Hall sheriff's office; Jon P. Strickland, formerly of Gainesville Police and the Georgia State Patrol; and Rickey E. Tumlin, a veteran of the Hall sheriff's office.