ROCK HILL — Late afternoon of the sheriff's runoff election day, candidate Tony Breeden told his Facebook followers that he was humbled just seeing his name on the ballot.
Hours later, voters bestowed another honor on him: the Republican nomination to be the next York County Sheriff.
Breeden, who retired in 2022 after a law enforcement career mostly with the Rock Hill Police Department, defeated his former co-worker and Rock Hill police Deputy Chief Michael Belk, in the June 25 runoff. Breeden, who achieved the rank of lieutenant, emerged from an initial field of five candidates seeking to succeed outgoing Sheriff Kevin Tolson.
Breeden took about 52 percent of the vote, or 8,900 ballots, to Belk's 48 percent. More than 17,000 people voted in the runoff, compared to nearly 25,000 in the primary.
Since no Democrat filed for the seat, the Nov. 5 ballot will have just the Breeden as the Republican nominee and the write-in slot.
