Mills squeaks into sheriff's office by 434 votes

By Alex Davis
alexdavis@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

In a wild race that had both parties congratulating their candidates, Democrat Darrell Mills appeared to narrowly defeat Republican Frank Loop last night to become the next Floyd County sheriff.

Democrats haven't held the county's top law-enforcement post for 16 years, and for a while last night county GOP leaders thought the streak would continue.

Loop, now chief of the sheriff's department, was hugged and photographed by fellow Republicans at the Calumet Club in New Albany after early unofficial results gave him a win.

Across town at a Knights of Columbus Hall, the mood was more somber, and even Mills conceded it didn't look good. But when the Democrats announced that the county clerk's office had released final numbers showing Mills with a 434-vote victory, the crowd erupted with shouts and cheers.

Mills, a patrolman with the sheriff's office, said he was confident the numbers were accurate.

"It's just hard for it to sink in," he said. "It's a very traumatic thing to go through."

For more on the race, read the Courier-Journal.