A runoff is ahead in the Kingfisher County sheriff’s race, according to unofficial results from the Oklahoma State Election Board Tuesday night.
Former Okarche Police Chief Forrest Smith was one of the four Kingfisher County Republicans running for sheriff. Smith was fired by the Okarche Town Trustees recently. Smith’s bid to be sheriff fell short Tuesday. A runoff will be between Jonathan Riedlinger and Aaron Pitts.
With 12 of 12 precincts reported, Kingfisher County Sheriff’s deputy Jonathan Riedlinger had 1,321 votes, or 49.49% of the vote, over Aaron Pitts, 770 votes, or 28.85%. Smith had 490 votes, 18.36%, and Jeremiah Loper 88 votes, 3.30%.
The race for sheriff in Canadian County was between the incumbent Chris West and challenger Justin Mize.
West had 10,040 votes or 81.83% compared to Mize’s 2,230 votes, 18.17%, the Canadian County Election Board reported.
For court clerk in Canadian County, Holly Eaton of El Reno had 8,048 votes, or 68.13% over Mark Pendergraft of Yukon who had 3,764 votes or 31.87%, the Canadian County Election Board reported.
For Canadian County commissioner in District 2 there will be a runoff between Josh Davis and Lacey Dawson. Dawson had 1,930 votes or 49.99% and Davis had 1,716 votes or 44.44%. Laramie Bryant had 215 votes or 5.5%.
Only registered Republicans can vote in Republican primaries in Oklahoma. Runoff elections are Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Smith was vying for the seat held by Democrat Sheriff Dennis Banther who has been sheriff since 2004 but is not seeking reelection.
Michael Dean Shults, 55, of Kingfisher, who filed to run for the office has withdrawn his candidacy, an election board spokeswoman in Kingfisher said.
In the Kingfisher County court clerk race Lauren Stroh, 33, of Okarche defeated Jessica M. Conner, 36, of Kingfisher.
Unofficial results show Stroh with 1,434 votes or 54.52% and Conner with 1,196 votes or 45.48%.
Emily Lee, 35, of Hennessey, a Republican, was the only candidate to file for the county clerk position this year.
In the Kingfisher County Commissioner District No. 2 race seat Republican Mike Sparks, 61, of Hennessey defeated Austin Whittenburg, 34, of Hennessey. Sparks had 526 votes, 72.85% to Whittenburg’s 196 votes, 27.15%.
Sparks will face a Democrat filed for county commissioner in District #2, David Roller, 62, of Hennessey.
In the state House District 41 Republican primary Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader defeated challenger Shea Bracken. The district covers northeastern Canadian and southwestern Kingfisher counties.
Read the Okarche Warrior for election results.
