LEE COUNTY (WACH) -- Daniel Simon has been declared the winner of a special Democratic primary election to replace disgraced former Lee County Sheriff E.J. Melvin.
Melvin was arrested on federal drug charges in May.
It was a steady stream of voters filing in to various polling places.
Lee County's image took a hit after Melvin's arrest.
Residents hope this election is the first step in turning things around.
"We've been in the news in a negative way," explains Bernard Simon, Lee County Voter. "We hope the outcome of this election will be a positive for Lee County...get Lee County back on the right track."
Daniel Simon is the current acting sheriff and he's the survivor of a five candidate race.
Simon is a Democrat. There's no republican challenger for the August 31 General Election.
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