Deeringer wins Clark County sheriff race
The former Jeffersonville police chief secured nearly half the vote in a three-way contest to replace the office vacated by the Jamey Noel scandal.
By Layla Edwards ·
Tim Deeringer won the Clark County sheriff's race on Tuesday.
Unofficial results from the Clark County Clerk’s Office show the Democrat captured just under 50% of the total votes cast. Republican Kenny Kavanaugh finished second with slightly more than 46% of the vote. Independent candidate Dwight Ingle received approximately 4% of the total. The margin of victory gave Deeringer the county’s highest law enforcement position in his first bid for elected office.
Deeringer spent nearly 30 years with the Jeffersonville Police Department. He served as the department chief for four years before retiring to operate a small business. Kavanaugh is a captain in the same department who previously held the chief role for 10 years. Ingle served as the police chief in Clarksville for two decades. Deeringer defeated both men to secure the seat that had been on the ballot for the first time since the conviction of former Sheriff Jamey Noel.
Scottie Maples currently holds the office and alerted state investigators to potential illegal activity after his second term ended. Maples lost the Republican primary to Kavanaugh in May. Deeringer said his team will coordinate with Maples to ensure a smooth transition of power. He stated the new administration plans to focus on trust and transparency to address the issues that led to Noel’s conviction.
Kavanaugh acknowledged the results via phone call on Tuesday evening. He said he performed better on Election Day than during the early voting period. He expressed his desire to see the department grow under the new leadership. Ingle was not immediately available for comment.
Miguel Hampton, the chair of the Clark County Democratic Party, described the night as a major victory for local Democrats. He cited national issues and local party leadership as factors that influenced voter behavior. Deeringer will take office on January 1.
The win aligns with other Democratic gains in the region. Beah Bayh won the Secretary of State race. Andrea Wasson Stemle defeated incumbent Lisa Glickfield in the Circuit Court 3 judge race. Christian Barrera unseated incumbent Ron Grooms in Council District 2.
