Union County will have a new sheriff next year.
According to unofficial results from the Union County Board of Elections, former deputy Mike Justice defeated incumbent Sheriff Jamie Patton in Tuesday’s Republican primary election.
With no Democrat or Independent candidate filed, Justice will not have opposition for the position in the November General Election.
Unofficial results list Justice with 5,093 votes, 52.6% of the vote, and Patton with 4,593 votes, 47.4% of the vote.
“It’s very humbling, the support I received, from the people that supported me through the campaign to the people that reached out last night,” Justice said.
He said during the election he didn’t really stop to think about how he would feel the next morning if he won. He said he was busy Wednesday morning running post-election errands and gathering signs so he still has not had time to really grasp the victory.
Justice has more than 33 years of law enforcement experience. He started as a non-sworn corrections officer and retired in November as third in charge as a Captain of the Patrol Division. Since 2015, Justice has held the rank of lieutenant or captain.
A lifelong resident of Union County, Justice graduated from Marysville High School in 1988 and now lives just outside of Milford Center with Rhonda, his wife of 27 years. Justice and his wife have three children — Adam Allar, Nicole Justice and Zane Justice — each of which graduated from Fairbanks High School, and a grandson.
Following the election, Patton posted a message extending “many thanks to my family, friends and supporters during my campaign for reelection as sheriff.”
He congratulated Justice for the victory.
“I will continue serving as your sheriff until midnight on Jan. 5, 2025,” Patton said. “It has been my honor and pleasure serving as your sheriff for the past 13 years.”
Patton, 54, has been in law enforcement for 34 years and served in various assignments. In 2011, Patton was appointed Sheriff to replace Rocky Nelson. He was first elected in 2012 then again in 2016 and 2020.
Justice said he won’t take office until Jan. 6, 2025, “but it is going to be a busy nine months.”
Justice said he will meet individually with deputies and sheriff’s office employees “on their off time.”
He said he did that when he took over the office’s patrol division and he learned a lot through the experience.
“It is important to find out what they feel is important compared to what I think is important,” Justice said.
He said he will also meet with township and county officials, “so they have a chance to voice things so when I am ready to take office, everybody’s thoughts and concerns have been brought forward and can be considered.”
Justice said his win is “encouraging to staff to hang in there.”
He said he has spoken with many current deputies, “and to just hear the excitement that I hear from the office staff, it is just very, very encouraging.”
Justice said he wants to work with the current sheriff to prepare for his upcoming term.
“I am hoping at some point in time Jamie (Patton) and I can sit down and talk,” Justice said.
He said he hopes he will get to be “at least somewhat involved” in the 2025 budget process that will take place later this year.
“I want to be able to work together to make the transition the best we can make it,” Justice said.
The sheriff-elect said that while those in the office will notice a change with him as sheriff, residents likely won’t.
“I think the citizens shouldn’t see a whole lot of change. I think they will continue to see professional, kind, professional service to the public,” Justice said.
County Archivist Stephen Badenhop said he does not know of another time when an incumbent sheriff was defeated.