Mark Mease will be Haywood County’s next sheriff.

The Republican topped his Democratic opponent, Tyler Howell, on Nov. 3 with 54.58% of the vote.

Mease currently serves as a Cherokee Indian Police Department detective but previously worked over two decades for the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office. He defeated the incumbent, current Sheriff Bill Wilke, in the March primary by earning 57.8% of the vote.