Sheriff who lost reelection fires deputy who unseated him

One minute after polls closed in a South Dakota election, a sheriff up for reelection fired the deputy who unseated him.

The Associated Press reports Bon Homme County Sheriff Lenny Gramkow fired deputy sheriff Mark Maggs after Maggs defeated Gramkow by a vote of 878-331 in Tuesday’s primary. Maggs posted a photo of his termination notice to Facebook.

Gramkow declined to comment about the firing.

Because no one else entered the race, Maggs will assume office in January, but until then, he remains out of work. An online petition to have him reinstated has been started by some community members, but Maggs said it’s unnecessary.

“I trust our county commissioners heard your voices (Tuesday) night through the election results, and I also trust that they will stand with my family and I (in) the way you all have and ensure that my family will not be left hanging without an income or insurance,” Maggs said.