DARLINGTON - Lafayette County voters Tuesday overwhelmingly re-elected Lafayette County Sheriff Scott Pedley for another four-year term.
With 27 of 28 precincts reporting, Pedley had 3,956 votes, or about 75 percent of the vote.
Challenger James Kilkelly received 835 votes, or about 15 percent; and challenger John Bredeson received 418 votes, about 10 percent.
Pedley, who has been sheriff in Lafayette County since 1990, said the election showed that residents were satisfied with his department.
"I'm pleased for the support," Pedley said.
Pedley said this was the first time since 1996 he faced opposition in an election.
The tone of the campaign was nasty at times - Pedley's opponents accused him of abusing his power as sheriff. But Pedley said voters clearly didn't believe the charges.
"My opponents forgot one thing," he said. "That Lafayette County voters are smarter than they realized."
Pedley said some of the people who voted against him are people who have been cited or arrested by the sheriff's department. He said officers will continue to enforce the law.
"It doesn't matter how connected you are, or how wealthy you are, the law is the same for everyone," he said.
Kilkelly, a Democrat who retired from Chrysler in Belvidere, said he was pleased with Tuesday's result, even if he didn't end up with a win.
"I'm glad I ran," he said. "I guess coming in second is better than coming in third."
Bredeson, who owns a trucking business, ran as an independent.
He said he hoped his campaign "woke some people up" to let them know how the sheriff's department is run in Lafayette County.
With 27 of 28 precincts reporting, Pedley had 3,956 votes, or about 75 percent of the vote.
Challenger James Kilkelly received 835 votes, or about 15 percent; and challenger John Bredeson received 418 votes, about 10 percent.
Pedley, who has been sheriff in Lafayette County since 1990, said the election showed that residents were satisfied with his department.
"I'm pleased for the support," Pedley said.
Pedley said this was the first time since 1996 he faced opposition in an election.
The tone of the campaign was nasty at times - Pedley's opponents accused him of abusing his power as sheriff. But Pedley said voters clearly didn't believe the charges.
"My opponents forgot one thing," he said. "That Lafayette County voters are smarter than they realized."
Pedley said some of the people who voted against him are people who have been cited or arrested by the sheriff's department. He said officers will continue to enforce the law.
"It doesn't matter how connected you are, or how wealthy you are, the law is the same for everyone," he said.
Kilkelly, a Democrat who retired from Chrysler in Belvidere, said he was pleased with Tuesday's result, even if he didn't end up with a win.
"I'm glad I ran," he said. "I guess coming in second is better than coming in third."
Bredeson, who owns a trucking business, ran as an independent.
He said he hoped his campaign "woke some people up" to let them know how the sheriff's department is run in Lafayette County.