In his first three months in the race to be the next sheriff of Hall County, Gerald Couch garnered more financial support than any of his six opponents. Couch, who kicked off his campaign in late January, raised more than $13,700 by the state deadline to report contributions, March 31. The jump-start, including a loan to the campaign of $20,000, puts his campaign within financial reach of Col. Jeff Strickland in the contest to succeed Sheriff Steve Cronic.