Sloan wins as Stark sheriff

By JOHN A. BALLENTINE
For The Prairie News

TOULON – Incumbent Steven V. Sloan has been reelected as Stark County Sheriff by the slim margin of 154 votes over challenger Charles Demetreon.

With all nine Stark County precincts reporting and a total of 2,345 of 3,732 registered voters casting a ballot (62.8 percent), Tuesday’s general election enjoyed higher turnout than usual.

Total votes cast for the sheriff’s race was 2,250, with 1,202 for Sloan and 1,048 for Demetreon. That represents an 87.2 percent vote for sheriff. Worth noting is that results are unofficial until all mail-in votes are tallied and added to the nine precincts totals. Of the 2,345 people voting, 95 did not vote for one of the sheriff candidates this election.

“I’m happy with the results,” said Sloan, who ran as a Republican against Demetreon, who filed after the primary and ran as an Independent. Yard signs sprung up overnight several months ago for both candidates. Election results are online at www.starkco.illinois.gov.

Demetreon said he expects the unofficial result to be the same as the official result. “It may change some but not enough to change the result,” he said.

Demetreon said he is unsure if he will run again or whether he will continue working as chief deputy in Stark County.

“It’s up in the air right now. Like I said we are weighing our options,” Demetreon said. “People are used to running down the ballot and voting Republican and my running as an Independent and not a Republican was a factor.

“I think that the Osceola area and up that way really got me. I want to thank everyone who supported and voted for me.”

Sloan also thanked his supporters in a paid advertisement in this edition of The Prairie News.