About 40 minutes after the polls closed on a warm Tuesday night, Emily Sullivan’s voice was heard slicing through the more than 100 Cleveland County Republican party supporters.
“We won,” she shouted among the red, white and blue balloons that decorated Coach’s Restaurant and Brewery on Main Street. After the initial report she tilted her head pressed the cell phone closer to her ear to hear the full report from her mother, Sherry. “We won by 100 votes. When the last district called in we were down by 13 votes. We won. I’m so excited.”
As the emotions erupted and tears began to fill her eyes, Emily, 22, embraced her sister Amy, 18. Their father Rusty had just beaten Leroy Krohmer, five-time Democratic incumbent for County Commissioner District 3, 8,066 to 7,940, or 50.39 percent to 49.61 percent.
It was a campaign, Sullivan, 54, said he couldn’t have accomplished alone.
“I’d like to thank my wife Sherry and my daughters Amy, Emily, Kandi and my daughter Krista in Tennessee. (Krista) is my prayer warrior. She called me every day,” Sullivan said shortly after arriving at the party with his wife.
He also recognized those who offered their time and service to his election effort.
“This was my first race, and I had a lot of support from my family and friends,” he said, following the announcement of his victory. “I’m humbled and honored that the citizens of Cleveland County would vote me in. We had good representation from Lexington and Noble. We felt like we got our message out to the district.”
Sullivan’s opponent, Kroh-mer, 76, monitored the election returns from Poor Boy’s restaurant in Noble. He expressed concern over the message Sullivan took to the people.
“We kept our side clean, while they spread more lies,” Krohmer said. “I thought people were tired of these dirty campaigns, but I guess that’s not true.”
Krohmer accused Sullivan of telling voters in the Eagle Cliff and Sutton Place additions that he, Krohmer, was planning to build a new jail near where they lived.
“He spread lies at the last minute that I didn’t have time to defend,” he said.
Krohmer said Sullivan had the “sheriff, the newly elected DA and the sheriff’s posse” campaigning against him.
“That’s the most vicious bunch of folks I’ve ever seen. I had the whole bunch against me,” he said.
Krohmer said he hoped voters “are happy with the new guy.”
“In my opinion, he’ll run the office just like he campaigned — no holds barred. At least I can sleep tonight. I don’t know if he can or not,” he said.
Krohmer thanked his supporters, donors and “those who went door to door for me.”
“I’m proud of what we got done (during five terms in office),” Krohmer said.
One issue Krohmer may not resolve is the overcrowded Cleveland County Detention Center, and the need for a new jail facility.
Krohmer’s term will end in January, and that’s when Sullivan says he will make the jail his number one agenda item.
“It’s paramount on my mind,” he said. “I think anything major like a jail, you should conduct a study and form a citizen committee. You have to get their input.”
Before there is any talk of facilities and prisoner counts, Sullivan said he was going to spend some time with the ladies in his life.
“I’m going to take my girls, and we are going to get some dinner. Then, for the first time in a while, we are going to sleep in,” he said.
Local news
Sullivan beats Krohmer for county commissioner
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