The Republican candidate won a close race for Lake County sheriff on Tuesday.

Lake County Undersheriff Jay Doyle stayed up until 11:30 p.m. on election night waiting for the results.

Doyle won by 289 votes, or 3 percent, over independent candidate Steve Kendley. Democrat Dan Yonkin finished third.

“I thought it was going to be a close race,” Doyle said. “You never know about these things.”

It was Doyle’s first run for public office.

“I appreciate the support and prayers. I’m looking forward to doing the best I can as the new sheriff,” he said.

“It was a real hard-fought campaign,” Kendley said. “I wish Sheriff Doyle all the best and hope he does all the things he talked about when he campaigned. I expect the sheriff’s team to pull together and do the best we can.”

All three candidates said they would improve communication between the Sheriff’s Office and the public. All three currently work for the Sheriff’s Office.

Charges and counter-charges rocked the race, with a former deputy who was fired earlier this year causing a stir with a website that opposed Doyle and Sheriff Lucky Larson.

Three men filed complaints against Doyle last week for allegedly placing campaign mailers in mailboxes of homes with campaign signs for Doyle’s opponents.

“If that was done, it was not done with my knowledge or permission,” Doyle said Wednesday.

Doyle finished with 3,902 votes, or 38 percent, compared to Kendley’s 3,613 votes, or 35 percent. Yonkin had 2,668 votes, or 26 percent.

Doyle said he plans to take over as sheriff on Jan. 2.