Harris Wins Divisive Campaign For Spotsy Sheriff

Spotsylvania County's next sheriff will be Roger Harris, who won a majority of a hotly contested campaign marred by allegations of impropriety and partisan division within the sheriff's office.

With all 27 precincts reporting, Harris garnered 48.9 percent of the vote, besting rivals Michael Timm and Brian Bettis. Timm came in a distant second place, receiving only 41.4 percent of the vote. Bettis came in far behind both, with only 9.4 percent of votes cast.

"Thank you citizens of Spotsylvania County," wrote Harris in a post on Facebook to his followers. "We did it."

Harris' career in law enforcement goes back to 1969 working as a patrol officer with the Fairfax County Police Department. He retired from the Fairfax County Police Department in 1989 and took a job as a narcotics investigator with the Spotsylvania County Commonwealth Attorney's Office. In 1996, his duties were transfered to the county sheriff's office, where he worked until last year when he retired to run for Sheriff.

Timm has worked his entire law enforcement career, dating back to 1989, with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office. He began as a Uniform Patrol Officer and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel by 2009. He oversaw many administrative duties under Sheriff Howard Smitth, acting as public information officer and head budget coordinator. Timm had received the endorsement of Sheriff Smith.

Timm's campaign was dogged by complaints of campaign violations and . These complaints resulted in two seperate state and federal investigations into Timm's campaign.

The investigations were largely fruitless.

Spotsylvania County Commonwealth Attorney Bill Nealy , but after

Another investigation by the federal Office of Special Counsel, , sought to determine if Timm violated the Hatch Act by campaigning in uniform. An opinion rendered by the OSP said that since the Spotyslvania sheriff's race was non-partisan, the Hatch act did not apply and

Voters interviewed by the Free Lance-Star said the investigations stained their perceptions of Timm's campaign.

A message sent to Facebook followers of Timm's campaign on Monday lamented the attacks, characterized as mud-slinging.

"I could never find words fitting enough to express to you all my deepest gratitude for everything that you have done for me throughout this arduous campaign," wrote Timm. "To say that it has been trying at times would be an understatement; but, I am most proud that our team never took part in any of the mud-slinging that all too often was directed at us."

Harris now inherits a Sheriff's Office in the wake of a divisive political campaign. He has promised that he will not fire anyone on the basis of who they voted for, but it remains to be seen if the department's top brass, who largely supported Timm, will stick around for a sheriff's office led by Harris.