Upshur Sheriff Wins Democratic Nomination
GILMER — Upshur County Sheriff Anthony Betterton had a commanding lead in the Democratic primary in his bid to keep his seat.
With 18 of 20 boxes and early votes counted, Betterton had 2.984 votes, 63 percent, to Gilmer Police Chief James Grunden’s 1,728 votes, 37 percent.
“I feel pretty good that things are going to stay like they are,” Betterton said at 11 p.m.
“I am just glad the voters turned out and supported us so we can get back to work and I just appreciate everybody’s support.”
“I am just glad the voters turned out and supported us so we can get back to work and I just appreciate everybody’s support.”
In the Republican primary, only early votes had been counted as of 11 p.m.
Gerald “Greg” Mandreger, a police academy director, had 167 votes, a 20-vote lead over rancher C. Leon Fatherree.
Gerald “Greg” Mandreger, a police academy director, had 167 votes, a 20-vote lead over rancher C. Leon Fatherree.
The Republican Party was using paper ballots only which slowed the vote count.
Betterton, 46, lives west of Gilmer and has been in law enforcement since 1981, including the past seven years as sheriff.
Betterton, 46, lives west of Gilmer and has been in law enforcement since 1981, including the past seven years as sheriff.
“It’s a job I have taken serious,” he said earlier in the campaign, stating he had found the sheriff’s office to be “home, and (his staff) is family.”
Grunden, 48, of Bettie, has been Gilmer police chief for 12 years. He has been in public safety for 29 years, including about 17 years as a firefighter and/or police officer in Gladewater.
Grunden had stressed his experience and education.
“I just didn’t decide overnight that I was gonna run for sheriff,” the chief said.
“I have spent several years preparing myself for it,” he said during the campaign.
“I just didn’t decide overnight that I was gonna run for sheriff,” the chief said.
“I have spent several years preparing myself for it,” he said during the campaign.
Mandreger, 48, of Big Sandy, has been police academy director and a captain at the International ALERT Academy near that city since 2000. He has also been an adjunct instructor at the Kilgore College Police Academy since 2005.
“I feel that (being sheriff) is a calling ... that this is going to fulfill a calling to serve my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, with truth justice, and judgment,” Mandreger said earlier.
Fatherree, a 70-year-old cattle rancher from Pritchett, is the only candidate without experience in law enforcement.
“The people that I talk to ... They’re not impressed with the people that’s got a lifetime of law enforcement behind them,” he said during the campaign.
Fatherree cites his civic work as a qualification for office, saying he helped establish the Pritchett Volunteer Fire Department and the Pritchett Water Supply Corp.
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