Breeden triumphs in hotly contested York County sheriff's runoff

Retired police Lt. Tony Breeden will return to law enforcement after winning Tuesday's Republican runoff for York County sheriff.

Breeden, 55, beat Rock Hill Deputy Chief Michael Belk in a close match for the job of the county's top cop. With 99 percent of precincts responding, Breeden received 51.9 percent of the vote. He will replace outgoing Sheriff Kevin Tolson since no Democratic or other candidates filed in the November general election.

The runoff, which drew heightened attention because of its competitive nature and bipartisan support, highlighted the contrast between Belk's administrative background and Breeden's popular appeal as a former rank-and-file officer.

During the final week of the campaign, Breeden reassured the public in a Facebook video that he had no plans to change personnel at the sheriff's office. He also stated that he did not intend to bring a single person with him.

“I am not replacing anyone and I have no desire for turnover at this location. None,” Breeden said.

Breeden's victory comes two weeks after no candidate received a majority of votes in a five-way election. In this election, Belk received the most votes while Breeden came in second.

The unexpected runoff was triggered earlier in the election cycle when Sheriff Tolson withdrew his re-election bid, prompting a last-hour entry by his wife Beth Bryant Tolson and subsequent calls for the reopening of nomination filings by the local republicans.

Raised in south Charlotte, Breeden campaigned on service, dedication and community values. His journey represents these values. He enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving in Okinawa and embassies in Tunisia, Syria, Algeria and Honduras, which he said instilled in him a deep sense of duty.

After his service in the Navy, Breeden joined the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office and then the Rock Hill Police Department in 1995. Rising through the ranks, he eventually became a lieutenant and served on the SWAT team for 25 years. He retired in 2022.

For a brief period after his retirement, Breeden continued to serve in Inspirational Ministries in Indian Land, SC. He is the husband of Brooke Lessmeister Breeden, father of three, and maintains a strong faith in Jesus Christ, guiding his values ​​and character, according to a campaign profile.

Breeden highlighted several key points from his campaign and his responses to questions from the Fort Mill Sun:

Sheriff's Constitutional Commitment: He is committed to being a constitutional sheriff, prioritizing the interests of the citizens of York County over outside agencies.

Priority to public safety: It plans to focus on combating violent crime, drug trafficking and property crime. It intends to use data-driven modules like Compstat or Prostar to effectively target enforcement efforts.

Relationship Building: Breeden aims to strengthen relationships within York County and with neighboring jurisdictions to improve overall safety and security.

Qualifications: He believes his leadership experience and established relationships within the county made him the most qualified candidate. He emphasizes the importance of inspiring leadership within the sheriff's office.

Program for the first 100 days: His immediate priorities include immersing himself in the Sheriff's Office, building relationships with staff and leveraging their expertise to effectively address new challenges.

Focus on Fort Moulin: It plans to address the specific needs of Fort Mill and the entire county based on local concerns, avoiding generic national strategies. He intends to listen to residents and use enforcement measures to improve public safety, particularly focusing on traffic and crime issues near Charlotte.

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