Here's the law that addresses the question, Getmeout. I think this whole discussion is much ado about nothing. Seems to me, on close reading, that a candidate for sheriff doesn't have to be certified as a law enforcement officer at the time he's running. He just has to have the qualifications to BE certified should he be elected. And he need not have spend a day as a South Carolina law enforcement officers. Service in other counts seems to count, too, And Gough seems to meet the qualification standards, based on what I've read and heard:
S.C. Code of Laws
SECTION 23-11-110. Qualifications.
(A) All sheriffs in this State must have the following qualifications:
(1) be a citizen of the United States;
(2) be a resident of the county in which he seeks the office of sheriff for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the election for sheriff;
(3) be a registered voter;
(4) have attained the age of at least twenty-one years prior to the date of his qualifying for election to the office;
(5) have:
(a) obtained a high school diploma, its recognized equivalent in educational training as established by the State Department of Education, and have at least five years' experience as a certified law enforcement officer; or
(b) obtained a two-year associate degree and three years' experience as a certified law enforcement officer; or
(c) obtained a four-year baccalaureate degree and one year's experience as a certified law enforcement officer; or
(d) served as a summary court judge for at least ten years.
For purposes of this section, a "certified law enforcement officer" is a person who has been issued a certificate as a law enforcement officer pursuant to Section 23-6-400(D)(1).
(6) have not been convicted of or pled guilty to a violation of Section 56-1-460 or 56-5-2930, or both, within the past ten years or a felony in this State or another state; and
(7) be fingerprinted and have the State Law Enforcement Division make a search of local, state, and federal fingerprint files for any criminal record. Fingerprints are to be taken under the direction of any law enforcement agency and must be made available to SLED no later than one hundred thirty days prior to the general election. The results of the records search are to be filed with the county executive committee of the person's political party. A person seeking nomination by petition must file the records search with the county election commission in the county of his residence.
(B)(1) A person offering his candidacy for the office of sheriff, shall file a sworn affidavit, no later than the close of filing, with the county executive committee of the person's political party. The county executive committee of any political party with whom a person has filed his affidavit must file a copy of the affidavit with the appropriate county election commission by noon on the tenth day following the deadline for filing affidavits by candidates. If the tenth day falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday, the affidavits must be filed by noon the following day. A person seeking nomination by petition must file a sworn affidavit with the county election commission in the county of his residence.
(2) The affidavit must contain the following information:
(a) the date and place of the person's birth;
(b) the date the person graduated from high school or the date the person obtained the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma;
(c) the date the person received any associate or baccalaureate degrees when applicable;
(d) the number of years' experience the person has had as a certified law enforcement officer when applicable;
(e) the number of years the person has served as a summary court judge when applicable; and
(f) an affirmation that the person meets all of the qualification requirements of subsection (A).
(C) Every newly-elected sheriff in his first term is required to complete a training session to be determined pursuant to Title 23, Chapter 6 of the 1976 Code, to be conducted by the Criminal Justice Academy or an otherwise approved academy or as may be selected by the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association. This training must be completed during the first calendar year of the first term of the newly-elected sheriff's term of office. A newly-elected sheriff who is unable to attend this training course when offered because of emergency or extenuating circumstances, within one year from the date the disability or cause terminates, shall complete the standard basic course of instruction required of newly-elected sheriffs. A newly-elected sheriff who does not fulfill the obligations of this subsection is subject to suspension by the Governor until the sheriff completes the course of instruction.
) Mr. Gough has no idea about South Carolina laws. Do we really want to elect someone who will have to have on the job training as sheriff? That could be very costly. 
