Incumbent Zach Scott lost the Democratic primary for Franklin Country Sheriff to Dallas Baldwin, former Lieutenant for the Columbus Police Department.
Supporters and members of the Democratic party’s Unity ticket celebrated Baldwin’s Tuesday night win, saying “There’s a new sheriff in town.”
Baldwin won 52 percent of the vote, making it the second defeat for Scott in less than a year. Because Baldwin doesn’t face an opponent, he’ll be sheriff after the November election.
In the mayoral race last year Scott ran without support from the Franklin County Democratic Party (FCDP) and lost to the party favorite, Andrew Ginther. Scott’s supporters: County Commissioner Paula Brooks and County Recorder Terry “TJ” Brown were also unseated after running without party support.
Brooks, Brown and Scott were part of some intense intraparty drama that threatened a complete party overhaul. In order to silence any dissent, the FCDP organized the “Unity” ticket, featuring Baldwin, Kevin Boyce and local attorney Danny O’Connor.
All three on the Unity ticket celebrated victories, ousting the incumbents and guaranteeing a more unified local party. Boyce beat Brooks, 57 percent to 42 percent, and O’Connor defeated Brown, 56 percent to 44 percent.