Jason Lewis will continue to fill two important roles in Oglethorpe County.
Lewis, who has been director of Oglethorpe County EMS since 2016, also took over the coroner position earlier this year after James Jackson resigned to run for sheriff.
“It’s not without its challenges,” Lewis said, “but at the same time, EMS is generally there anyway.”
Lewis was appointed coroner in February, but the position was up for reelection this year. He was unopposed in the Republican primary and has no opposition for the general election in November.
Lewis said these overlapping positions are “actually not that uncommon.” Elbert County’s Chuck Almond also holds both positions.
As coroner, Lewis assists in death investigations and determines the cause of all deaths outside of hospice or physician care, but he said his office often helps families understand the next steps after death.
“A lot of families that I’m serving,” he said, “I know them. I know their children, their grandchildren. So that’s the most difficult aspect of it.”