Dahl wins by eight votes

The race went down to the wire. And when the final county votes were in at about 2:30 a.m., challenger Sgt. Todd Dahl defeated Sheriff Eric Klang by eight votes in the race for Crow Wing County sheriff.

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Dahl had 13,449 votes to 13,441 for Klang. There will be an automatic recount.

"It's a lot closer than I thought it was going to be, that's for sure, but I'm still hopeful and positive that I'm going to pull this thing off," Klang said earlier in the night. "It hasn't been a relaxing evening."

Dahl was tired, but positive.

Crow Wing County Sheriff's patrol sergeant Todd Dahl looked at vote tallies with his wife Sue (left) and Monica Eide (center) Tuesday night. Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist » Purchase reprints of this photo.

"Things are tight," Dahl said. "We've been very happy and very positive about everything and just can't say enough about our team. It's been fun."

In 2002, Klang, then a Crow Wing County sheriff's deputy of 12 years, beat incumbent Dick Ross to become sheriff. In the Sept. 12 primary, where he vied with Dahl and Brainerd Police Officer Troy Schreifels, Klang received 50.49 percent of the primary vote. Dahl garnered 36.98 percent of the primary vote.

Dahl, a Crow Wing County sheriff's patrol sergeant, has been with the department for 19 years.

RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.