Strong, Higdon win sheriff primary races
Photo by Jessica Stewart / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo
Buchanan County Sheriff Mike Strong receives congratulations Tuesday night at his watch party at Barbosa’s Castillo. Mr. Strong won the Democratic nomination against Ron Fisher.
There was only one silent moment in Sheriff Mike Strong’s night Tuesday — one long enough to take in a breath before the cheers, shouts and celebration began.
With celebration headquarters set up at Barbosa’s Castillo restaurant, Mr. Strong and his slew of supporters had their eyes glued to either a television or laptop for about an hour after the polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The result — Mr. Strong won the Democratic spot for Buchanan County sheriff against Ron Fisher, a marshal in the courthouse, by just 366 votes.
“It was closer than I wanted, but it’s a win,” Mr. Strong said. “I’m glad it’s over with, and I’m glad we won.”
Mr. Strong, the only candidate to host a gathering at a public location, chose Barbosa’s for a second time, hoping not to break the luck from his previous victory.
As for Mr. Fisher, he said he doesn’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.
“I’m disappointed, but an incumbent is always tough to beat,” Mr. Fisher said. “We did the best we could, but the east and northeast end results really hurt us.”
He plans to stand behind his party and is now in full support of Mr. Strong for the November election.
On the Republican side of the election, Galen Higdon, who was surrounded by family and friends at a private home, got the news he wanted. Mr. Higdon, a sergeant on the Sheriff’s Department patrol division, managed to earn 61 percent of the vote to defeat Brian Carter, an evening shift supervisor in the Sheriff’s Department corrections department.
“It wasn’t winning results, but I am pleased with the outcome,” Mr. Carter said, also surrounded by family and friends at his home.
For Mr. Higdon, the results hadn’t quite set in yet.
“I’m just really grateful and thankful to the voters who exercised their right and supported me today,” Mr. Higdon said. “I really hope that they exercise that right that soldiers fight and die for every day and get out and do it again in November.”
Mr. Carter, who has spent eight years in St. Joseph, said it’s too early to tell what his future holds.
“I’m not going to disappear,” Mr. Carter said. “I’ve been active in the community for eight years and plan to keep it that way.”
What can you expect between now and November for Mr. Strong and Mr. Higdon?
“We’re going to sit down and take it step by step,” Mr. Higdon said. “We’ll take a look at what we’ve done, what we want to do and what we won’t do again.”
Mr. Higdon also added “win in November,” to his plans.
“Well, we’re going to go back at it,” Mr. Strong said. “Just keep presenting the current track record to the voters.”
Megan Tilk can be reached at megantilk@npgco.com.
This story has 10 comments. Click here to join in on the discussion.
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Had to be a little eye-opening for Sheriff Strong, as close as the election ended up. He could have some real problems come November...
Posted by MichaelH on August 6, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)If Higdon wins in November, it will be the second time in four years that the county voters have been fooled.
Good lord, Galen Higdon or Mike Strong? That's what it has come to?
Posted by joetowner on August 6, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)Brian carter, is that you?
Posted by stjoeproud on August 6, 2008 at 9:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)Yeah, joetowner, it sounds like a comment that came from a sore loser. :)
Posted by MichaelH on August 7, 2008 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)On the contrary.
That comment comes from an individual who served as an officer under Mike Strong (and Mickey Gill). I've also worked with Higdon in the same capacity.
Unlike most, my comments of the current administration come from first hand experience. Thanks.
Posted by joetowner on August 7, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)Rick Dierenfeldt, is that you?
Looks like I was right about Strong being scared. If you are in the law enforcement cicles, then you may have heard about Strong's back-handed approach to secure an endorsement from the FOP last night...
Posted by deb2007 on August 7, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)joetowner, come on don't tease us. i went to school with both strong, higdon and lou ann higdon, she and i grew up together, and i think they are good people (the higdon's) i am not saying strong isn't a good person, however i will be voting for higdon.
Posted by devinbroncs123 on August 7, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)Go Strong! LOL I have no in depth comments as it actually doesn't matter to me. Either or, the budget will continue to be brutalized.
Posted by MichaelH on August 7, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)Dierenfeldt is a punk kid.
To be honest, I hadn't heard. But considering Strongs career at SJPD, it wasn't surprising to see Strongs campaign signs being displayed in large numbers at the FOP weeks ago. Strong has a lot of respect in the law enforcement field because they are all familiar with the games LE plays, and Strong plays the game well.
As a citizen, knowing what goes on in the inside bothers me to the point of really just saying screw it because it doesn't matter anyway.
There will always be someones uncle, aunt, mom, dad, sister, brother, niece, nephew, neighbor, drinking buddies, etc. in a position to elevate one another and continue manipulating the system in their favor. The, "Good ol' boy network" as WagTheJoe puts it. And to be fair, St. Joseph is hardly the only city faced with this collective set of truths.
It's very frustrating. All you can do is play the game and avoid making any unecessary contributions to the civil/criminal county (stay out of trouble!).
Anyway, thanks for the spur of conversation. Guess I'm feeling typative(sp?).
Also, so there is no confusion, I do not associate with or consider myself "in the circle." These days I surround myself with non-jaded people who still have some compassion for people that aren't like them.
Posted by joetowner on August 7, 2008 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)those strong signs were at the labor union hall, that fence or wall or whatever it is is actually their property. Pretty deceiving though...
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