Douglas County Sheriff Dalbec easily tops challenger

Douglas County Sheriff Tom Dalbec easily held off a challenge from Dan Bethards. Dalbec generated about 70 percent of county votes, with 23 of 26 precincts reporting late Tuesday.
Dalbec, who ran as a Democrat, has run the sheriff’s department for 12 years. He said he expects little change in how he leads the department.
Bethards, a Republican, wanted to challenge the incumbent to provide a “fresh set of eyes,” as he told the Superior Telegram earlier this fall. Bethards lives in Brule and is a narcotics officer with the Lac Courte Orielles Tribal Police.
COOK COUNTY SHERIFF
The retirement of Sheriff Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk left the position open to two longtime department employees. Chief Deputy Leif Lunde, who has been serving as the interim sheriff, was being challenged by Deputy Pat Eliason.
The race could not immediately be called, as only one precinct out of 13 had reported votes two hours after polls closed.
KOOCHICHING COUNTY SHERIFF
Koochiching County Sheriff Brian Jespersen was trailing challenger Perryn Hedlund, an International Falls police officer, late Tuesday night after precincts in the county’s largest city had reported. With 16 of 22 precinct results in, Hedlund had 56 percent of the vote to Jespserson’s 44 percent.
UNOPPOSED
St. Louis County Sheriff Ross Litman and Lake County Sheriff Carey Johnson ran unopposed and were re-elected.