SOLVED. Series Police Chief/Sheriff Whose Mom is Really the Detective [s]

[Bargle]

Set in contemporay times. Lead character is a police chief or sheriff in a small town or city. His mother solves the tough cases after he discusses them with her. In one story, one of the police force men is an amateur actor and performs in a locally produced play. A Hollywood director is in town and complements him on saying his lines as if he just thought of them. In another, a local election is going on and the chief doesn't know whether to vote for the slimey incumbent or the new, but unknown opponent. His mother says 'Better a devil you know, than a devil you don't'.

[Bargle]

Solved it myself. I finally remembered the books had 'Mom' in the titles.
It's the 'Mom' series by James Yaffe.