The next Morrill County sheriff needed a bit of luck to win the job after a recount confirmed two candidates were tied.
But the nine of hearts Milo Cardenas drew Monday evening beat Travis Petersen's six of spades and settled the Republican primary.
The two men agreed to cut a deck of cards after Monday's recount confirmed that both finished with 379 votes after balloting ended last Tuesday. State law requires tied elections to be settled by a game of chance.
Morrill County Clerk Kathy Brandt shuffled the cards seven times and spread them out on a table before the candidates drew their cards.
No Democrat ran for sheriff, so Cardenas, who is Bridgeport's police chief, is almost certain to win the job in November as the Republican nominee.
