John Shearon will be Chilton County’s next sheriff.

With all precincts reporting, Shearon received 8,225 votes, unofficially, during Tuesday’s General Election, or about 71.7 percent of the total number of votes cast.

Shearon is a former sheriff’s department employee.

“I left here six and a half years ago to come back and do what I’m doing now,” said Shearon, who had worked with the Calera Police Department. “I just want to make a difference.”

The majority vote allows Shearon, running on the Republican ticket, to avoid a runoff against either challenger Eddie Price, an Independent, or Terry Wilson, a Democrat.

Price unofficially received 1,705 votes, or about 14.9 percent; while Wilson received 1,541 votes, or about 13.4 percent.

“It’s a humbling experience,” Shearon said. “I can thank everybody enough.”

Shearon defeated incumbent Kevin Davis in June’s Republican Party Primary. Shearon received about 55 percent of the vote in that election to Davis’ 45 percent.

Shearon ran against Davis in 2010 and forced a Primary Election runoff with Davis but eventually lost.

Shearon, who will take office in January, said he will immediately look to rebuild the sheriff’s department by hiring qualified deputies.

Shearon celebrated the election results with about 250-300 friends and family Tuesday at Elizabeth Hall in downtown Clanton.

Another local election on Tuesday’s ballot was the newly created revenue commissioner position.

Tim Little, the current tax collector, was the runaway winner over Libertarian Doug Ward.

Little unofficially received 9,601 votes, or about 92.2 percent; compared to Ward’s 810 votes, or about 7.8 percent.

For more from the election, including the results of statewide offices and amendments and how Chilton County residents voted in these races, check ClantonAdvertiser.com and see Thursday’s newspaper.