SAGGUS Tommy Saggus has announced his candidacy for Wilkes County Chief Magistrate Judge, which will be decided during the General Election on November 4, 2008.

The son of Frances Saggus Hensley and the late Donald R. Saggus, Tommy Saggus was born and raised in Wilkes County and will qualify for the nonpartisan officein June.

"I will devote myself to work hard for the citizens of Wilkes County and treat everyone equally," he said.

He is married to the former Karen Lewis of Lincolnton and they have three sons, Tom, Brannon, and Donald. Saggus attended Georgia Southern University and then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served as a security officerand studied criminal justice.

After working in the family business, Saggus Farms and S&S Supply Company for 15 years, Saggus was hired by the Wilkes County Sheriff's Department as a detention officerwhere he has served for the past seven years.

He has also managed Washington- Wilkes Little League, Inc. for the past four years, and coaches football and baseball at Washington-Wilkes Middle School.

Saggus states that given this opportunity, he will run this officewith a open-door policy for all citizens of Wilkes County.