The retired state trooper and former newspaper publisher Manning announced back in September that he’d be a candidate for Sheriff.
Manning and his wife, Holli, a teacher at Grandview Elementary in Elk city, were the founders and publishers of the Elk Citian and Daily Elk Citian newspaper from 2003 to 2013.
Manning received 778 votes, while his challenger Barry Don Gowdy received less than 3%. Even current Sheriff Scott Jay received more votes than Gowdy, but Jay withdrew from the race several weeks prior to the election for sheriff. Jay received 8% of the vote.
Manning previously served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for almost two decades with assignments in Logan County and Beckham County before eventually retiring to join his wife at the newspaper.
Today, Manning says he feels good.
In September, when he announced, Manning said he felt that serving Beckham County as sheriff would be one of the most gratifying ways to use the skills and knowledge he’s gained from his time with the OHP.
Manning said the overwhelming vote of almost 90 percent was almost a mandate.
The 54-year-old Republican lives in Elk City where a daughter and her husband also live. Another daughter and her husband live in Norman.
Manning will take over in January of 2017.
At the end of his term in December 2016, Sheriff Scott Jay will have served for 16 years making him the longest serving sheriff in Beckham County history.
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