Jason White continues to gather signatures from registered Limestone County voters in hopes of running for sheriff as an Independent candidate.

Although White ran for sheriff as a Republican in 2002, he believes he was prevented from running on the GOP ticket this time because of his sexual orientation. The head of the local GOP said White was denied ballot access because he is not a true Republican, not because he is homosexual.

White now has until June 5, the day of the statewide primary election, to turn in the signatures of 691 Limestone County registered voters to get his name on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. The number reflects a percentage of those who voted in the last gubernatorial election.

“I’m getting signatures, but I’m not sure what I am up to yet because I have two people helping me,” White told The News Courier. “The plan is to get around 1,000 in case some of them turn out to not be registered Limestone voters.”

He said he was able to gather 100 signatures just at the recent Athens auto show.

A former Athens Police officer, White currently co-owns a growing Huntsville security company — Riley Security — and is a police officer for the University of Alabama Huntsville. Other candidates for sheriff include incumbent Democrat Mike Blakely and Republican Eric Redd.

Once White gathers what he hopes will be enough signatures, he will turn in the petition to the Limestone County Probate Office, which will confirm how many signatures represent currently registered Limestone voters. If he gets the 691 required, his name will be placed on the ballot as an Independent candidate for sheriff.

Tried to run GOP

White ran for sheriff as a Republican in 2002 but was defeated in the GOP primary. He tried to get on the GOP ballot again for the upcoming June 5 primary but was denied access in January by the Limestone County Republican Executive Committee.

White believes he was denied because of his sexual orientation.

Local Executive Committee Chairman Noah Wahl said White’s sexual orientation was not an issue and White was denied ballot access because he is not a true Republican.

Wahl said White did not vote for Donald Trump for president but instead supported the Libertarian candidate. Wahl also said White did not donate to other GOP candidates, though White said he has supported GOP candidates at events.

After White was rejected access to the GOP ballot, the Libertarian Party in Madison asked him to run for Limestone sheriff as a Libertarian, something White said he appreciated but declined.

In seeking signatures, White said he has gotten a lot of encouragement from people who believe the local GOP was wrong in preventing him from running a Republican.

Any currently registered Limestone County voter who would like to add their name to White’s petition can call him at Riley Security at 256-715-7812.