SALLISAW (KFSM) -- With 51 percent of the vote in Sequoyah County, Republican Candidate Larry Lane walked away with the sheriff's seat Tuesday night (Nov. 8).
" I ran in 2012 and lost in a very narrow election and decided to go ahead and do it again this time," Lane said.
Lane beat out current eight year Sheriff Ron Lockhart.
"I have been doing this for over 25 years and that was my next step is to run for sheriff. It's what I wanted to do and fortunately the people of the county chose to elect me," Lane said.
Lane said he is planning his first order of business as sheriff of Sequoyah County.
"The number one thing is working on drugs. Right now the drugs is running rampant in this county and we are going to be relentless to the drug dealers and thieves," Lane said.
He also said seeking out raises for deputies will be first on the to-do list.
"They only make $100 more a month than they did eight years ago when I left," he said. Lane was a Sequoyah County Deputy in the past and now heads the drug task force with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department.
Lane said he received a phone call from Lockhart on Tuesday (Nov.8) congratulating him on his win.
"He told me to come in and we would work together to get the transition as smooth as we can," Lane said.
The new sheriff of Sequoyah County will take office on January 1, 2017.