By Dave O'Brien
Record-Courier staff writer
There's a new sheriff in town.
David Doak, former chief deputy of the Portage County Sheriff's Office, was elected Portage County sheriff over his former boss, Duane Kaley, by a count of 29,264 for Doak to 24,396 votes for Kaley, according to incomplete results from the Portage County Board of Elections.
Doak, a Democrat from Ravenna, defeated Kaley, a Deerfield resident and Independent seeking his fifth four-year term as sheriff.
Chris Smeiles, a Democrat, fended off a challenge from Larry Solak, a Republican and two-term Shalersville trustee. Smeiles had 28,896 votes to Solak's 24,475 votes, according to incomplete results from the board of elections.
The party already was hopping at 10:16 p.m. when Craig Stephens, chairman of the Portage County Democratic Party, announced to the Democrats gathered at the Italian American Society on South Chestnut Street that Doak had taken an insurmountable lead over Kaley and that Smeiles was leading Solak.
Doak hugged his wife, Linda, his daughter, Amanda, and a line of well-wishers including many of his former colleagues at the sheriff's office. Kaley fired Doak, his chief deputy for more than 12 years, in November 2007 after Doak filed petitions seeking the elected position.
"It's been a real long year," Doak said, admitting he was "absolutely" nervous prior to hearing the results. He said his first job was to "get signs out of the ground, because people are good enough to let you put those out."
"I've been called a lot of names in 38 years, but never a politician," he joked.
Doak said he was indebted to Craig and Ruth Stephens, his campaign treasurer Charlene Pittman, his friend and fellow pilot Dale Kelly " "He kind of pressured me into this, and had to twist my wife's arm" " the "enthusiastic" Portage County Democratic Party and "those people who were so good to Linda and I through all this."
"Certainly I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my wife and daughter. We've had our life on hold for a year. I'd never have been able to run this campaign without them," Doak said. "There are so many others, I don't know where to begin. Everyone who was there for me."
A message seeking comment from Kaley was left on his cell phone. There was no answer at his home Wednesday night.
Smeiles, who will now serve a sixth term on the board of commissioners, thanked "my lovely wife Deborah for her patience and my coworkers for their support and patience."
"I'm very pleased to have the campaign concluded," Smeiles said Wednesday. "I'm especially appreciative of the voters who placed their vote of confidence in me despite the eleventh-hour smear campaign politics."
The campaign was Solak's third for the board of commissioners. He previously ran in 2004 and 2006.