OGLE COUNTY — Residents of Ogle County elected a new sheriff during Tuesday’s primary elections as incumbent sheriff Greg Beitel was defeated by deputy Michael Harn.

Beitel, of Oregon, was seeking re-election to his second term and has been with the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office for more than 24 years. Harn, of Forreston, is currently a deputy in the department and also has been with the department for more than 24 years.

Throughout the past few months, the race has drawn considerable interest throughout the county as campaign rhetoric reached a pinnacle. Since no Democratic candidates ran in the primary on Tuesday, Harn will be the next sheriff.

“I’m still speechless,” Harn said Wednesday morning. “This is a victory for the citizens of Ogle County. The issues I ran on were factual and substantiated. People listened to me and I think they are really looking to move in a different direction.”

Voter turnout throughout the county was low at 22 percent. Harn received 63 percent of the votes (4,648 votes) and Beitel received 37 percent (2,676 votes).

Harn said his campaign experience has been a positive one.

“This was an extremely humbling experience — I’ve met so many people along the way that have supported me,” he said.

He added that as sheriff, he will keep his campaign promise to hold quarterly town hall style meetings for the public.

“I’m going to let the people vent and listen to what they have to say,” he said. “This sheriff will be one that is out in the community all of the time, not just during elections.”

Beitel said that results of the election came as a shock, however, he would not have changed how his campaign was run.