Published: November 05, 2008 07:52 am      

12:35 am: Heckman sheriff in Benzie, Israel in Kalkaska

By ART BUKOWSKI — BENZONIA — One regional sheriff’s candidate will become the top cop at his department after serving as second in command. Another fell by a wide margin to his own employee.

Benzie County Undersheriff Rory Heckman edged out challenger Brant Downing 2,428 to 2,193 with nine of 13 precincts reporting late Tuesday. Incumbent Kalkaska County Sheriff William Artress lost to challenger David Israel, a sheriff’s detective, 5,049 to 3,251.

Heckman, a law enforcement veteran of more than 30 years, will replace retiring Benzie Sheriff Bob Blank. He beat Republican candidates Jeff Morse and Damon Wilkes in the August primary.

“I feel very good to have won the election ... I’ve got a lot of work in front of me,” Heckman said.

Heckman plans to hire William Sholten, the county’s emergency management director, as his undersheriff. One of the first things Heckman plans to focus on is convincing county voters to pass an upcoming jail millage, he said.

Heckman said Downing ran a strong campaign.

“We had an opponent that worked very hard, and he was very tenacious ... obviously he must have struck a chord with some voters.”

Downing believes he put forth a strong effort.

“I’m happy with what I did, and I’m proud with what I did,” he said.

He believes the people who voted for him want changes within the sheriff’s department.

“Hopefully, Rory Heckman can make them,” he said.

Israel, 60, has worked for the Kalkaska sheriff’s department for about 15 years. .

“I feel real good about it,” he said. “I had a good team to work with. The time was right, people were ready for change.”

Israel will name current road sergeant Abe DeVol as his undersheriff, he said.

Artress was shocked he lost by such a wide margin.

“I’m really surprised at the numbers,” he said. “But I’ve always said, what it is, is what it is.”

Artress is not the first area incumbent sheriff to be ousted this year. Incumbent Antrim County Sheriff Terry Johnson fell to Republican challenger Dan Bean in the August primary. Incumbent Grand Traverse Sheriff Scott Fewins was defeated by challenger Thomas Bensley in the primary election.

Republican incumbent Leelanau County Sheriff Mike Oltersdorf defeated Republican challenger Mark Walter in the August primary. There were no Democratic challengers in Antrim, Leelanau or Grand Traverse.