From NBC40.net — It’s indisputable that one of the more hotly contested races in South Jersey has been that for Atlantic County sheriff and tonight it appears there is a new man at the helm.

It certainly was one of the more competitive races in Atlantic County, and with 55% of the vote, it appears there is a new sheriff in town.

Atlantic County Republicans were feeling very optimistic watching the numbers come in tonight, giving their candidate Frank Balles a significant lead over incumbent Sheriff, James McGettigan. Feeling secure with a more than 9,000 vote lead, Balles has declared victory. “I feel great,” said Balles, “I’ve felt great since day one. This has been a plan that we’ve put together over the last two years and I believe it’s all coming together.”

“The race won’t be decided tonight,” said James McGettigan, current sheriff, “but we certainly have high spirits and high hopes that it’s gonna be a happy conclusion for the Democrats.” Despite Balles declaring victory, incumbent sheriff McGettigan has not conceded and feels the race is too close to call with thousands of absentee and provisional ballots yet to be counted. “It’s like tripping before the finish line,” said McGettigan, “but you don’t get to run across it, you’re crawling across it. We’re exhausted runners in this marathon of a sheriff’s election.”

“What’s next? Well, Thursday morning I’ll be sitting at my desk in the Pleasantville police department,” said Balles, “and January we’ll take over and you know we have a plan to turn that sheriff’s department around in the three years that I’m there.”

So a very exciting night in Atlantic County tonight which may have resulted in an upset. New comer, Frank Balles, running in his first election has appeared at this point to have defeated current sheriff, James McGettigan, as he went after his 6th term in office.