Sheriff-elect Randall Edwards, with wife Michelle, pauses in his speech to supporters after defeating incumbent Lewis Hawkins July 29.

By Traci Chapman
Published on July 31, 2008

For the first time in 19 years, Canadian County will have a new sheriff, after challenger Randall Edwards defeated incumbent Lewis Hawkins for the seat in the Republican primary Tuesday.

Edwards, a former sheriff’s deputy, garnered 4,436 votes — more than 61 percent of the total — in comparison to 2,790 ballots cast for Hawkins. No other candidates filed for the seat.

Edwards said he has started the wheels in motion for several programs he discussed during the campaign, including re-instituting a K-9 unit and moving to bring a drug task force back to the county. He said he also looks forward to working with officials throughout the county to find a solution for the county’s jail woes.

Edwards began his career in law enforcement after his 1974 discharge from the Marines Corps. After returning home, he began working with the El Reno Police Department.
He worked for the police department for two years before leaving to build a business installing sewer and water systems for municipalities “statewide.” Edwards said he raised cattle in Canadian, Caddo and Pontotoc counties.

Edwards returned to law enforcement in 2000 when he retired from construction and scaled back his cattle business, taking a position with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Department. He resigned as a deputy sheriff in February when he decided to run for sheriff.

“I am so humbled that so many people who don’t even know me chose to support and vote for me,” he said. “I have a lot of plans, and I hope I can live up to everyone’s expectations.”

Hawkins was first elected in 1988, after beginning his law enforcement career as a part-time reserve volunteer at the Yukon Police Department in 1976. He moved to the sheriff’s office as a reserve officer in 1980, going full-time in 1982. He said Wednesday he was happy to have the election behind him and would be ready to move on in January, when Edwards takes office.

“The people have spoken, and I respect that,” he said. “I have no sour grapes for the citizens — I’ve had a good 20 years, and I’m happy with that.”

The county’s District 2 Commissioner race did not end Tuesday, with Mustang contractor David Anderson and publisher Richard Engle living to “fight another day,” when the pair will face an August runoff election.

Anderson topped out votes for the post at 1,042, followed by Engle’s 908 total. The slate was rounded out by county employee Theresa Ramsey at 554, former Commissioner Monty Keely with a total of 388 ballots and Mustang City Councilman Scott Gibson with 271 votes.

Anderson is a “lifelong Mustang resident” and owner of Dave Anderson Construction, which he has operated since 1981. He said the company primarily performs construction for communities and developments, working on sewer and water projects for a variety of entities.

Engle is the president of Bellwest America, a directory publishing company. Before starting the company in 2000, he was publisher of Mid-Del and Harrah News. Now a Mustang resident, he served two terms as a Bethany City Councilman.

Anderson said he was grateful to voters for giving him a chance for the post; after taking a day off, he said he would be “back to it,” analyzing how votes broke down across the county in preparation for the Aug. 26 runoff.

“I want to look at how I did across the county, especially in those areas where I didn’t do as well and work harder to communicate with those voters,” he said. “I think if people can really learn about me and my qualifications for the position, that will make all of the difference.”

Engle did not return calls placed to him by press time.

Ramsey, who ran for the office against Commissioner Don Young in 2004, losing by only 48 votes in that try, said she was “relieved” the race was over.

“I think this is God’s way of letting me know I’m not meant to be a commissioner, which is fine,” she said. “While I’m disappointed, I know I ran a good campaign, and I’m happy with that.”

Young, who did not seek re-election, will serve until Jan. 2, when the winner of the runoff will take the seat.

Two seats vacated by retiring officers were also contemplated by voters Tuesday. County Clerk Phyllis Blair’s seat will be filled by her employee Shelley Dickerson, who defeated El Reno legal assistant Barbara Haley, 4,360 to 2,716 votes. The vote seesawed during the evening until Yukon tallies came in, when both candidates said Dickerson “ran away with it.”

“I’m just thrilled,” Dickerson said. “We have lived in Yukon for a long time, and we’ve formed a good connection to the community — I really appreciate the support of our friends and neighbors.”

Haley said she was happy the long campaign was at an end, saying, “We gave it a good shot — while I obviously could be happier with the result, I can’t thank my family, friends and supporters enough for everything they’ve done these last months.”

Two of retiring Court Clerk Dee Ray’s employees remained standing in their bid for her post. Marie Ramsey walked away with the Republican bid, garnering 4,505 votes to Allen Arnold’s 2,546 total. The race between the office’s two Democrat candidates was closer — 1,758 to 1,352 votes — with Sherry Murray defeating Anna Hrdy.

Ramsey and Murray will face each other in the Nov. 4 general election.

Ramsey, who has served as chief deputy in the court clerk’s office since 2006, said she was “gratified” by the support she received in the primary and looked forward to the contest with Murray in November.

“I think everyone who supported me so well will carry me into the position in the general election,” she said.