For Steve Cronic, being elected Hall County sheriff was the realization of a childhood dream.“I grew up really dreaming of being sheriff one day,” he said, adding with a laugh, “A lot of people kid me — they said I ran for sheriff for 20 years.”Twelve years later, as his time as sheriff expires, Cronic doesn’t deny the position has been tough.“It’s very demanding. It’s very rewarding —but it’s also very demanding,” he said.In some ways, Cronic’s time in law enforcement began when he was a child.“I was raised in a law enforcement family, with my father working for the Hall County Sheriff’s Office,” he said. “So I kind of grew up with the department and (being sheriff) was just always something I had in my heart that I wanted to do.”His 35-year career officially began in 1979, when Cronic was 19, with the state traffic enforcement division of the department of transportation.He would later work for the Gainesville Police Department, the district attorney’s office and in the private security sector, where he was able to complete his education.“There was a wonderful opportunity to ask the voters for this job 12 years ago.“It’s one of those jobs that you don’t put down.