Conservative leader and successful businessman, Jude Hehman is ready to lead.

Jude Hehman is a lifelong Kenton County resident, proven conservative leader, and successful entrepreneur running for Sheriff in 2026. A Fort Mitchell native, Jude was elected to City Council at age 21 and served five terms before becoming Mayor in 2014. During his 11-year tenure as Mayor, he balanced budgets, strengthened public safety, expanded transparency, and delivered award-winning city services—earning Fort Mitchell “City of the Year” (2021) and himself the Kentucky League of Cities’ Elected Official of the Year (2019).

As co-founder and CEO of Furlong Building Enterprises, Jude built one of the region’s top construction firms from the ground up, embodying conservative values of hard work, fiscal responsibility, and free enterprise. His business acumen is critical for the Sheriff’s Office, which manages nearly $200 million in annual property tax collection and distribution for schools, cities, and local agencies.

Jude currently chairs the Kenton County Emergency Dispatch Board, serves on the Kentucky League of Cities Executive Board, and previously led the Northern Kentucky Mayors Group. His leadership extends beyond government—he was named Volunteer of the Year by the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky (2022).

He is running to continue Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn’s legacy of excellence by bringing modern, business-minded leadership to law enforcement—prioritizing public safety, supporting deputies, defending Second Amendment rights, and ensuring every tax dollar delivers results.