Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

County voters elect new sheriff

Three of the four incumbents who were seeking to hold offices in Nevada County were beaten out by challengers, including the Nevada County Sheriff. The results were announced following the Nevada County runoff election Tuesday. Incumbent Bobby Carlton gave up the position to Danny Martin. Martin is a member of the Prescott Police Department and worked in the Nevada County Sheriffs Office under Carltons predecessor, Steve Otwell. Otwell was among Martins supporters at the watch party held at the Nevada County Courthouse following the election. Carlton, losing by some 200 votes, congratulated Martin on his win and said it will be business as usual in the Nevada County Sheriffs office until the end of the year and that he plans now to retire. Carlton, who won the seat from Otwell, said he didnt regret the two years of his term. Weve made many changes in the sheriffs department, Carlton said. Carlton said he appreciates those who did support him. Martin said that, following the election, he planned to get ready for his night shift with the PPD. He said hell remain with the city until time for him to take over the sheriffs office. I owe that to the people of Prescott, Martin said. Martin said he expects to make some changes in the department, including some shifting of personnel. In other elections in the county, Justice of the Peace Arval Mason was beat out by Harold Vines. Mason actually lost the 2005 election to Sonny Buster, but Buster died before taking office and Mason served out another term. Mason, who sits on committees including the landfill, will give up the seat to Mason in January. Prescott City Council member Jerry Wilson gave up his seat to Dennis Pruitt, a teacher at McRae Middle School. Gary Lowdermilk, incumbent for a Prescott City Council seat, held that seat from challenger Elaine Williams. Lowdermilk, an employee of Firestone Building Products, faced off challenger Ron Murphy in the general primary in May.