The governor honored a request made by the sheriff before his death to name his chief deputy as interim replacement, Sanford spokesman Will Folks said.

"Gantt, we feel, will be a good steward to that office," he said.

Chief Deputy Gantt, who took command of the department when Mr. Zorn died Wednesday after a long battle with cancer, has said he isn't interested in running for the office, Mr. Folks said, adding that the announcement was a key factor in the decision to grant Mr. Zorn's request.

When Aiken County Coroner Sue Townsend died earlier this year, Mr. Sanford, responding to requests from state Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, and local Republican Party chairman David Nix, decided not to honor her request to name her chief deputy, Tim Carlton, as interim coroner because he was a candidate for the office. Mr. Sanford said the appointment would give him an unfair advantage.

Instead, Mr. Sanford named Robert Haythorn as the interim coroner.

Barnwell County Chairman Tommy Rivers said he knows Chief Deputy Gantt and thinks he will be a good interim sheriff.

"I think it's wonderful," Mr. Rivers said. "Tommy's a fine fellow. He's a good police officer, and he's got good administrative skills and he knows everybody.''

Barnwell County Councilwoman Jackie Ramsey said she also was satisfied with the decision.

"Sheriff Zorn thought highly of him and that's a good recommendation," Ms. Ramsey said.

Filing for the special election for sheriff will open Oct. 12 and close Oct. 18. The primary will be held Oct. 26, and the general election will take place Dec. 14.

Chief Deputy Gantt did not return repeated phone calls Monday afternoon.

Mr. Zorn, a Republican who served as sheriff for 16 years, died less than a year before he would have set the record as the county's longest-serving sheriff.

Reach Phil Watson at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110.

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