Gerald Couch, who resigned weeks ago from the Gainesville Police Department to pursue "other professional endeavors," seems to have entered the race for Hall County Sheriff as a Republican.

The seat, currently held by Steve Cronic, is up for election this year and Cronic is not seeking another term.

A website titled teamcouch2012.com promises a campaign kickoff party for the post this week at the Northeast Georgia History Center.

Couch, a former employee of the Hall County Sheriff's Office resigned from the county last year to join the Gainesville Police Department.

But after eight months on the job, Couch resigned in December.

The sheriff's race has at least four Republican candidates already: Chuck Hewett, former Hall County Jail chief of security; Jeff Strickland, the former chief deputy of the sheriff's office; Jon P. Strickland, formerly of the Gainesville Police Department and Georgia State Patrol; and Rickey Tumlin, a 32-year veteran of the Hall County Sheriff's Office.

Democratic candidates include Richard Blevins, former Forsyth County Sheriff's deputy; and Chad Cobb, who was a PTO and Booster Club president and School Council chairman at the now-closed Jones Elementary School.