Nez Perce County voters elected a new sheriff while incumbents retained their seats on the county commission.
Former chief deputy and Independent candidate Bryce Scrimsher won the sheriff’s contest by garnering nearly 64 percent of the vote over Republican two-term sheriff Joe Rodriguez who claimed 36 percent.
Incumbents held on to their seats on the Nez Perce County Commission over two former Lewiston mayors. Don Beck defeated challenger Jim Kleeburg 68 percent to 31.9 percent. In a much closer race, incumbent Doug Havens held off Jeff Nessett 53 percent to 46 percent.
Voter turnout in the county set a new record. Nez Perce County Clerk Patty Weeks says the 88.9 percent of registered voters who turned out beat the 86 percent of voters who cast ballots in the 2004 election.
