WINTON – As Hertford County bids farewell and happy retirement to Sheriff Juan Vaughan, the effort is underway to find an interim replacement.

Vaughan formally announced his retirement on Tuesday, leaving two years early on his fifth term in office that ends in 2018. Vaughan’s retirement date is Oct. 1 and his last official day on the job is Sept. 25.

According to North Carolina General Statutes, the decision to name an interim Sheriff is left in the hands of the five members of the Hertford County Board of Commissioners.

Following a closed session at the end of the regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, the commissioners announced they will accept letters of interest from those desiring to fill the remaining two years on Vaughan’s unexpired term of office. Those letters will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14 and must be placed in a sealed envelope marked “Confidential” and hand-delivered to the office of the Hertford County Manager. That office is located inside the county’s administrative building adjacent to the new Hertford County Courthouse.

Those making an application are required to be at least 21 years of age, have resided in Hertford County for at least one year, and bondable.

The county commissioners will review all applications and conduct interviews with selected individuals meeting the criteria on Sept. 20-22.

According to Hertford County Manager Loria Williams, the commissioners are anticipating to appoint an interim sheriff at their Oct. 3 regularly scheduled meeting or before that date.