GLASGOW, Ky. — Dr. Chris Steward, a longtime Cave City dentist, farmer and former Barren County magistrate, died Monday in Arkansas, according to former Barren County Sheriff Chris Eaton.

Eaton said in a Facebook post that Steward’s son called him to tell him of Steward’s death.

Steward served as Barren County’s 6th District magistrate on two separate occasions. The district includes Cave City and Park City.

“He was something else in Barren County politics back in the day,” Eaton said.

Eaton also remembered Steward as someone he had many conversations and memories with.

Steward was active in local and state politics during the 1990s. In 1992, he challenged Steve Nunn for a seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

When he announced his campaign against Nunn, Steward pledged to run a “clean, positive but aggressive campaign in which he will stick to the issues,” according to a Jan. 12, 1992, report in the Glasgow Daily Times.

Steward was also a classroom teacher and pointed to his experience in education as evidence of his lifelong interest in the field. As a farmer, he said he understood the challenges facing agriculture.

During his campaign for the state House, Steward advocated for more affordable health insurance for farm families and changes to Kentucky’s health care system. He also highlighted environmental issues and concerns affecting outdoorsmen.

“He emphasized that he is not a politician but has a sincere wish to serve the people in the district,” the Times reported.

Steward’s public life later included a federal criminal case involving controlled substances.

He pleaded guilty to federal charges involving obtaining controlled substances by fraud, distributing controlled substances outside the course of professional medical practice and health care fraud. A federal judge sentenced him to 18 months in prison in March 2017.

During sentencing, Steward’s attorney, Alan Simpson, asked the court for leniency, saying the case had taken away his family, community and dental practice, according to an Associated Press report.

Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.