Wilson polled 2,535 votes to 2,253 for Leesburg Police Chief Terrell Ransum in the sheriff’s race, a victory margin of 282 of the 4,788 votes in the only local office on Tuesday’s Democratic Primary runoff ballot.
“I appreciate all of the voters coming out and voting for me,” Wilson said Tuesday night after watching the results come in. “I would like to thank all of the people that helped me during the campaign. I just thank the people for electing me as sheriff.
“It’s going to take me a few days to get together and sit down and come up with some plans,” said Wilson. “The main thing I want to try to do is get our D.A.R.E. program up and going in the schools. I want to try to meet with the board of education and see if we can’t get something going with them.
“Sheriff (Roy) Wynn has been real special to me,” added Wilson. “He has treated me real good. He has really worked hard in this election and i really appreciate that.
“I think the voter turnout was real good today, and I think that played a big part in the results. i don’t think the weather bothered them that much. A lot of people came back and voted for me who voted for me before and I really appreciate that.”
Ransum in congratulating Wilson pledged to give him his full support.
Wilson has 24 years of experience in law enforcement. He began his career as a Centre policeman in 1978 and was a city investigator when he left the department in 1987 to join the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy.
For the past decade, Wilson has served as chief investigator and chief deputy under Sheriff Wynn, who is retiring after three terms. Wilson will become sheriff next January.
Wilson was the front-runner in the Democratic Primary with 2,545 of the 5,471 votes cast, giving him 46.5 percent. He needed 2,736 of that total to avoid a runoff.
Ransum was the Primary runnerup with 1,799 votes (32.9 percent), while the third candidate, Danny Smith, garnered 1,127 votes (20.6 percent)
Post a Comment