JACKSON COUNTY, MI – Gary Schuette is moving on to the November election for Jackson County sheriff.
Schuette received 9,789 votes in the Aug. 4 primary election, which topped his Republican challengers, David Elwell, who received 6,873 votes, and Kenneth Carpenter, who received 2,864 votes.
Schuette now faces Democratic challenger Val Cochran Toops in the Nov. 3 general election.
Three Republican contenders seek win in August primary race for Jackson County sheriff
“I’m extremely excited,” Schuette said. “I’m just thrilled to death that I’m able to continue on.”
Sheriff Steve Rand is not seeking reelection. Rand is facing a lawsuit filed against him and Jackson County which states he is a “multifaced bigot” for his discriminatory comments against women, minorities and disabled people. Rand faced a failed recall effort and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declined three formal requests to remove him from office.
Schuette is the cousin of sheriff’s Lt. Tommy Schuette, who filed the lawsuit. His run for sheriff is unrelated to the lawsuit, he said previously, adding he’s considered running for years.
Next, Schuette said he’ll take the rest of the week off to recover from the primary run and get some sleep after staying up for more than 24 hours waiting for votes to be tallied.
“I’m going to hit right at it again,” he said. “I’m going to keep going after it with my message. I’m going to keep pounding it out there so I can make sure everybody has a chance to ask me questions.”
Live results: Jackson County voters head to the polls in August primary election
Schuette, 49, worked at the Jackson Police Department for 25 years, 18 of which as a detective. He is now an attorney at White, Hotchkiss & Falahee PLLC and also is president of the Hanover-Horton School Board.
Elwell resigned his position as Columbia Township Police Department chief and did not seek reelection for his seat on the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, he said, so he could focus on his campaign for sheriff.
After failing to advance to the general election, Elwell thanked the people who supported him and the communities he’s served in his 40 years in law enforcement and 18 years as a commissioner.
“I look forward to free time to spend with my family, including our three beautiful granddaughters,” Elwell said in an email.
Carpenter thanked his supporters for their efforts during his campaign in a Facebook post.
“To my committee, my wife Karen and my family,” the post said. “Thank you for all the hard work and believing in our vision for a better and safer Jackson and Jackson County.”
The three Republican candidates all had different strengths that drew voters to them, Schuette said. He said he hopes those who voted for the other candidates will give him a chance.
“I want them to give me a chance to be able to explain my position and talk to me about how I plan to better serve the Jackson community and better the Jackson sheriff’s department,” Schuette said. “I think that if I have that chance, they will see that I will do an excellent job as the next sheriff. I’m looking forward to those conversations.”
Cochran Toops was unopposed in the primary election. She also ran as a Democrat for Michigan’s 16th Senate District in November 2018, losing to incumbent Republican Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake. She also ran and lost the Democratic primary for the Michigan House of Representatives 65th District in 2016.
“It feels really good, but I think I have a long ways to go,” Schuette said. “I think I can reach out to more people and I think a lot of people need to understand who I am and where I come from and what I intend to do with the sheriff’s office.”
Read more Jackson County election news:
Two moving on to join incumbent on November ballot for Jackson County District Court judge seats
Incumbents win primaries for Jackson County commissioner seats
Jackson County voters approve senior services tax with 58% approval