There's no need for Utah County residents to vote for their next sheriff this November – because only two Republicans are running in the upcoming primary and the winner will be their next top lawman.
Pleasant Grove Police Chief Mike Smith and retired U.S. Marshall Jim Phelps are battling it out for the position being vacated by Utah County Sheriff Jim Tracy, The Daily Herald reports.
And with no Democrats or other party candidates throwing their hats in the ring, whoever is victorious in the June 26 primary will automatically become the new sheriff.
According to the newspaper's Katie England "tensions are already high in the race."
That's because Phelps last week filed a complaint against Smith after a uniformed Pleasant Grove police officer was spotted hanging Smith's campaign signs. Smith says the charge is a disappointing "campaign tactic."
Utah County is the Beehive State's second-most populous county with more than 500,000 residents.
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