With Bryan Murphy winning Tuesday’s primary election, citizens of Allen County are one step closer to having a new sheriff.
Murphy defeated Jared Froggatte a farmer with a background in law enforcement, in the Republican primary.
Murphy collected 1,420 votes to Froggatte’s 860.
Though Murphy gained a victory he knows he needs to stay focused until November when he goes up against Skyler Clark — who has filed as an independent — in the general election.
“I am still going to be going out and campaigning,” Murphy said. “I am not going to let my guard down.”
Murphy described himself as a believer in good, old-fashioned campaigning by knocking on people’s doors and introducing himself.
Murphy touched on one issue voiced by Froggatte in the campaign: the potential conflict of interest with his wife, Angela, heading the 911 dispatch center.
Murphy stressed that while he and his wife work in law enforcement together, they are in separate departments, he said.
Murphy has worked in law enforcement for 20 years, 18 of in Allen County, including 14 as undersheriff.
When he goes up against Clark, Murphy said he would not change his platform. He vows to keep a focused eye on pushing drugs out of the community.
JARED FROGGATTE said he was not surprised by the turnout.
“I was disappointed, but not overly surprised,” he said. “Other election turnouts surprised me more than mine.”
Froggatte, among other things, had planned on focusing on the budget, which he believes is “out of control.”
“Bryan is a nice enough person, but I don’t think he is what Allen County needs right now,” Froggatte said.
