Schuylkill County Sheriff candidate Doug Litwhiler said he will remain a candidate for the office.

“I am not withdrawing from the race for Schuylkill County Sheriff. Going into this race I had nothing to lose and after the dirty politics that have been played by the Democrats and the current Sheriff, I still have nothing to lose. I have had more people who I don’t know encourage me to stay in this race than I ever could have imagined,” Litwhiler said in a text message.

He added, “Although it is a shame that some people believe everything they see on Facebook, I know what the truth is and so do those close to me. The Democrats have tried to beat me down, but I’m a fighter and I’m not backing down and I will let the great people of Schuylkill County decide this race not Facebook.”

Schuylkill County Elections Director Albert Gricoski said as of noon Friday Litwhiler is still a candidate. He has until 4:30 p.m. Monday, the last day for a nominated candidate to withdraw.

Litwhiler said previously he was dropping out of the race because of allegations he made inappropriate remarks to women as alleged on the Facebook page titled “Schuylkill County Sheriff Candidate Doug Litwhiler likes young girls.”

He denies the allegations.

Litwhiler filed a lawsuit against Sheriff Groody and three others. Kylee Petritsch, a defendant, has since been removed from the lawsuit.

Groody, Anthony Kodak, who is the author of the page, and Ranae Warcola are the remaining defendants. Groody has not yet been served.

Sheriff attorney James Bohorad had no comment when asked if sheriff deputies were authorized to serve Groody. Kodack’s lawyer accepted service on his behalf. Warcola was served.

The filing, for defamation and civil conspiracy, alleges Groody threatened Litwhiler in a phone call and said that “it was going to be Groody’s last term and requested Litwhiler wait four years.”

According to the suit, Groody also told Litwhiler that if he entered the sheriff’s race that he would be wasting his money and that Groody “would ruin Plaintiff’s reputation, his jobs and his family,”

In part it also alleges the posts were made at Groody’s direction and that statements were made with “reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity of the statements.”

Groody has denied having any involvement with the accusations made against Litwhiler.

He said he had not sent emails, text messages, Facebook posts or any allegations against his opponent.

Kodack said he created the page to give women an outlet to speak. Creating the page had nothing to do with politics, he said. He knows Groody but has no spoken to him in years. He said Groody has no affiliation with the page.

Kodack said he asks for evidence or corroboration when deciding what to post. He has rejected some for such comments regarding language. He also asks for permission to post stories before doing so.