Blanton announced over the weekend that he intends to retire next July 1st.

He tells KBND he just feels that it's time.

"But you know in this line of work, 35 years , there aren't many rural roads, state highways you travel down that you don't remember some critical issue or incident or death scene," Blanton says. "It's time to get a different view of the world. There comes a time to move on to the next chapter in life. So we're very excited."

Sheriff Blanton is advocating for Captain Shane Nelson to get the job. He is the Commander of the Sheriff's Corrections Division.

The commissioners will appoint a sheriff since Blanton is leaving before his term is up, and that person would run for re-election in 2016.