Muskogee County Undersheriff Michael Mahan announced yesterday that he is running for the office of Sheriff.
Mahan has served in law enforcement since 1991 as a Muskogee Police reserve officer, then police officer — during which he served as the public information officer, community relations officer and sergeant in the patrol division — and from 2018 to the present as chief deputy and undersheriff of the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office.
He will face Muskogee Police Lieutenant Andy Simmons in the Republican primary, and possibly face former Sheriff Charles Pearson, who has said he is running but has not officially declared his candidacy, in the general election. More candidates are likely to file in the race to replace former Sheriff Rob Frazier, who quit to become Fort Gibson’s police chief. Current Sheriff Terry Freeman has said he will not run for the office.
