Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Another former deputy for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office has thrown his name into the ring to run for sheriff.
Greg Warden, who has a total of 21 years in law enforcement, made the announcement this past weekend.
Warden was at the MCSO for 16 years including time as a sergeant and lieutenant, serving as a programs’ director for seven years. He currently works at the Roanoke City Sheriff’s office as a property deputy, peer team leader and corporal. Previously, he also had worked as the New River Valley Jail as a Master Jailer.
“I am running for Sheriff of Montgomery County because this is my home. It’s where I was raised, where my roots are, and where my heart has always remained. This community shaped who I am, and I feel a deep responsibility to give back to the people who have given me so much,” Warden said.
Through his experience working in other jurisdictions, Warden feels he has gained valuable knowledge, new perspectives, and proven practices that can strengthen the Sheriff’s Office.
“I am committed not only to building on the solid foundation already in place, but also to improving services, increasing efficiency, and ensuring our community receives the highest level of protection and care.”
“Montgomery County deserves leadership that understands its people, values its traditions, and is prepared to move it forward—and I am ready to serve,” he said.
He is the third person to announce a run for the Montgomery post after current Sheriff Hank Partin announced his retirement.
Warden believes he is set apart from the other candidates because of the breadth of experience he has gained working across multiple localities.
“During my time at the regional jail in Dublin, I collaborated with eight different jurisdictions and had the opportunity to visit each one. This exposure allowed me to observe firsthand what works effectively in different counties, while also learning from respected leaders—including chiefs of police, sheriffs, and my current sheriff in Roanoke City—about how their systems operate,” he said.
Warden also says his involvement in community engagement—working alongside homeless and elderly citizens, as well as everyday members of the public—has kept him grounded and strengthened his commitment to serving others.
“These experiences have shaped me into a more effective deputy and a better colleague,” he said.
Warden would like to build a stronger, more supportive sheriff’s office that prioritizes staff wellness, professional development, community engagement.
With his background in peer counseling of inmates at local jails, he would like to restore and expand educational, therapeutic, and rehabilitative programs in the Montgomery County Jail, while focusing on reducing recidivism through: Education (GED, life skills), mental health and substance abuse support, reentry preparation and rebuilding programs that previously showed success during your tenure.
He said his plan would also include Community Engagement to increase positive interaction with citizens through: Low-cost or free community events, outreach programs and public education, reinforce that the Sheriff’s Office is approachable, transparent, and community-focused and encourage deputies to be visible, accessible, and engaged with residents.
“This vision starts with leadership but succeeds through unity. By investing in our people, supporting our staff, and engaging our community, we can create an agency that not only serves—but truly connects with—the citizens of Montgomery County,” he said.
With several candidates, both the Democrat and Republican parties are expected to hold primaries in June. The overall election is scheduled for November. The new sheriff would serve the final year of Partin’s term and would then have to run for the full term in 2027.
Partin, who will officially retire April 1, recently appointed Robert Page as the acting sheriff. Page has served as Chief Deputy and has led the department’s warrants division. Page will serve in the post until November’s election.
