By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

COLUMBUS, Kan — Garry Abram and David Groves will face off in November for the office of Cherokee County sheriff.

Incumbent Sheriff Steve Norman didn’t seek re-election.

Abram won the Republican nomination in Tuesday’s balloting over Undersheriff Kent Soucy by a vote of 924 to 863. Vote totals from the Cherokee County clerk’s office are complete, but unofficial until ballots are canvassed.

“I’m very excited” about the win, Abram said. He said he will gear up his campaign to work toward the general election, which he said he expects to be a tough campaign.

“I’ve been in law enforcement a lot of years, and I’m looking forward to telling the voters what I plan to do,” he said.

Groves won the Democratic nomination with 1,126 votes, compared with 583 for Gary Allen and 521 for Jerry Delmont. Groves received about 50 percent of the total among the three candidates while the other two candidates divided up the other half of the votes.

“I’m thrilled and excited about the win,” Groves said Tuesday night. He said he didn’t know how the results would turn out, but he’s happy about the outcome. He said he would start concentrating on November.

“We’re ready to keep going,” Groves said. “We’ll continue to get our information out about my goals and programs. We’ll keep doing that right up through November.”

Groves is a Baxter Springs police officer. Abram is a former Galena police chief and was chief deputy for a time under Norman. He ran unsuccessfully for sheriff 20 years ago.

Voters casting ballots at Galena City Hall on Tuesday morning were asked about their choices for sheriff.

Ray Smith, a 63-year-old retiree from Galena, said he voted for Groves for sheriff.

“I think he would be a good man, and honest,” Smith said. “He would save on the budget. That’s what we need.”

Husband and wife Larry and Letha Martin, of Galena, said they both voted for Allen in the sheriff’s race. Larry Martin is a 67-year-old retiree, and Letha Martin is 55 and cares for their disabled son at home.