The Marion Board of Elections is permitting a Republican running for county sheriff to stay on the ballot. Mathew Bayles is being permitted to be on the March 17th ballot. Sheriff Tim Bailey, who is running for re-election challenged Bayles' candidacy. On Dec. 30, Bailey sent a letter to the elections board, urging election officials to reject Bayles' petition to run for sheriff and saying Bayles had violated the law by seeking elected office while still employed as a lieutenant by the Marion Police Department. According to Bayles he had hip surgery on October 1st. His retirement letter said he planned to retire on January 6th, but Bayles' attorney said he resigned earlier, on December 30th.