Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 27, 1991                   TAG: 9102270473
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: VICTORIA RATCLIFF STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

VETERAN SHERIFF STEPPING DOWN IN BOTETOURT

Sprinkle, 65, said he has not decided if he will retire before his term ends in December. A Democrat, Sprinkle has been sheriff since September 1959. He started as a deputy in 1955.

"There just comes a time when you have to face reality," Sprinkle said. "I am at retirement age. After this many years, it's time to step down and let someone else take over. I want to go out still able to do the job."

Botetourt County Commonwealth's Attorney Buck Heartwell also said Tuesday that he will not seek another term. Heartwell, a Democrat, will have been prosecutor for 12 years when his term ends in December.

"I feel like that's long enough," said Heartwell, 44. "It's time for a change."

Heartwell, who serves part time, said he will devote all of his time to his general law practice.

"It was a difficult decision. . . . Public service is very satisfying in some ways. . . . I've been at it for a long time. It's been rewarding, but it's time for a change."

Two of Sprinkle's deputies - Investigator B. Reed Kelly and Chief Deputy Jerry Caldwell - said Tuesday that they would seek the Democratic nomination for sheriff.

Kelly, 38, is chairman of the Botetourt County Democratic Party. He began working for the sheriff in 1973 as a jailer and dispatcher. He later was promoted to road deputy and then to investigator.

Kelly, a Botetourt County native, has an associate degree from Virginia Western Community College and is working toward his bachelor's degree at Mary Baldwin College.

Caldwell, 51, has been in police work for 30 years, starting in Clifton Forge in 1961.

He began working for the Botetourt County Sheriff's Department in 1965 as a road deputy and was promoted to chief deputy in 1973.

Also a Botetourt County native, Caldwell has two years of police science studies at Dabney Lancaster Community College.

Sprinkle said he would support whoever the Democratic Party nominates, as long as he knew the person was capable of doing the job.

The sheriff said he has not encouraged anyone to run. "This is something every individual has to make up their own mind about," he said.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Hagan, who also isHeartwell's partner in private practice, said he will seek the Democratic nomination for commonwealth's attorney.

Hagan, 37, has lived in Botetourt County for 10 years and has been assistant commonwealth's attorney since 1980. Hagan was born and reared in Roanoke and graduated from the University of Virginia and Washington and Lee Law School.

If elected, Hagan said, he would continue his private practice. However, he and Heartwell would have to dissolve their partnership if Heartwell is to begin criminal defense work.

Heartwell said Tuesday he will "very definitely" support Hagan in his bid for office. "Obviously, he has the experience," he said.

Keywords:
POLITICS