Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar wins reelection

Deryl Loar (center), pumps his fist after being re-elected as sheriff of Indian River County on Tuesday evening.
Photographer: SAM WOLFE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS
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Posted: 08/14/2012

By: Rikki Klaus

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. - The Indian River County Sheriff's race was a hotly contested rematch. Incumbent Deryl Loar defeated long-time sheriff's department supervisor Bill McMullen. Loar earned about 55% of the vote to McMullen's 45%.

This will be Loar's second term. Before winning four years ago, he served as a highway patrolman for two decades.

McMullen was an Indian River County Sheriff's department employee for almost three decades. When Loar took office in 2008, he was demoted to lieutenant.

Since McMullen did not win the sheriff's position, he says he's retiring.

Meanwhile, Loar is planning for his next term.

"The next four years, we will continue to be conservative. We will continue to be fiscally responsible, continue to lower the crime rate, and hope like heck that the economy turns around so we can lead on for four more years after that," said Loar.

McMullen says he's proud of the way he ran his campaign, with a lot of grassroots support.