BANGOR, Maine — Republican Troy Morton rolled to victory in the Penobscot County Sheriff’s race Tuesday night over independent Allen Stehle.
The race did not include a Democratic candidate.
Both men spent the day shaking the hands of constituents and went to their respective after-parties when the polls closed Tuesday. Morton and followers packed the Eddington Salmon Club at 4 Riverside Drive, and Stehle and his supporters gathered at Beal College, where he is president.
With 57 of 65 precincts reporting Wednesday morning, Morton amassed 33,194 votes to 18,725 for Stehle.
Morton was reluctant to declare victory Tuesday night. He thanked his supporters for their endorsement and for leading a positive campaign.
Morton said that, with six other sheriff races in the state for Androscoggin, Knox, Oxford, Piscataquis, Somerset and Washington counties, a lot of changes could be on the horizon for Maine.
“This election could potentially change things with different sheriffs,” Morton said. “We’ll all have to wait and see.”
Morton replaces Penobscot County Sheriff Glenn Ross, who is retiring at the end of the year after 36 years in law enforcement. Morton was Ross’ choice to fill his shoes.
“When you’re sheriff, you have to work with unions, the jail, direct law enforcement officers, and Troy had done all of that, and he’s worked his way to the top,” the exiting sheriff said. “He had great character and great ability. He’ll be a great sheriff.”
“He set the bar high and will be a great leader,” said Deputy Jim Ellis, who has worked for the sheriff’s office for eight years.
Morton earned the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police Penobscot County Law Enforcement Association Lodge No. 12 in October, but the vote was slightly contentious, with the union president resigning during the process.
Morton has 25 years in law enforcement. Stehle heads a small college that offers programs ranging from accounting to law enforcement.
Stehle started out in law enforcement in 1977 as an inspector with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He also was a teacher and later joined the sheriff’s office and became chief deputy under Ross in November 2002. However, he resigned after less than a year on the job, citing personal and professional reasons.
Morton started as a Penobscot County Jail corrections officer in 1988 and became a patrol deputy in 1996, and he was appointed deputy chief by Ross 12 years ago to replace Stehle.
Former Bangor Police Chief Don Winslow, a Democrat, announced plans in February to run for the sheriff’s seat, but he withdrew from the race a few weeks later after learning his cancer had returned. He died July 10.