Dougherty says “It’s surreal” after voters elect him for Marshall County Sheriff

MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. (WTRF) – It was a tight race between current Sheriff Bill Helms and Mike Dougherty. Mike Dougherty came out with the win with 49% of the vote and will be Marshall County’s next sheriff starting in January.

7News Reporter Annalise Murphy got to speak with Dougherty one on one to figure out some of the things he hopes to implement when he takes over.

“[Some] things that will change is I’m going to make a more proactive sheriff’s office as well as a community-oriented sheriff’s office. Proactive is to get more deputies out onto the roadway and work with drug interdiction, combat, domestic violence, and as well as hold community meetings so the county knows what’s going on, what’s inside the sheriff’s office.”

Michael “Mike” Dougherty | Won Marshall County Sheriff with 49% of vote

Dougherty brings almost 27 years of law enforcement experience with him as the new sheriff and spent his entire career in Marshall County before retiring in October of last year.

He says winning this election is “surreal” and he wants to thank his wife, daughters, aunt, uncle, family and friends for their support.

“They helped me get to this point. None of this would be possible without them. And I’m just really excited to get to January now and start on some stuff.”

Michael “Mike” Dougherty | Won Marshall County Sheriff with 49% of vote

As mentioned, the sheriff’s race was a close one, only separated by less than a 100 votes most of the night.

“Mr. Helms was up first and then I came up with about 100 votes. And it just it was exciting to watch it and it was a good time.”

Michael “Mike” Dougherty | Won Marshall County Sheriff with 49% of vote

Doughtery says, Sheriff Helms is one of the nicest guys he knows and an amazing sheriff.

“We’ve worked together our entire career. I really wish that it wouldn’t have had have been me and him facing off in this. But we talked from the beginning, and we knew one of us was going to win and one was not going to win, and we will remain friends after this.”

Michael “Mike” Dougherty | Won Marshall County Sheriff with 49% of vote

Some of the other races she followed in Marshall County include Magistrate Division 1 and Board of Education.

For Magistrate Division 1, Kevin Cecil won with 44% of the vote and for the Board of Education, there were two seats available which will be filled by Lori Kestner and John Miller.

In Hancock County, W.Va., Tommy Ogden won by less than 300 votes. Remember, for the latest on election results throughout the Ohio Valley, you can visit this link.

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