Votes counted by the wee hours this morning indicated Kootenai County residents were opting against new blood for sheriff.

By 12:45 a.m., 73 percent of votes from 15 precincts, plus 74 percent of more than 20,000 absentee votes that had already been counted, tapped Maj. Ben Wolfinger with the Sheriff's Department to succeed retiring Sheriff Rocky Watson.

Wolfinger, who has been with the department since 1983, was leading the four-way sheriff's race with 17,427 votes.

"It's certainly looking good," the Republican said after midnight. "We're looking forward to moving forward come January when we take over the office."

His three Independent opponents were behind by a wide margin. Joe Bodman had garnered 1,369 votes, 5.7 percent of votes; Tom Dickson had earned 1,572 votes, or 6.6 percent; and Bob Foster had 3,371 votes, or 14 percent.

Wolfinger wasn't surprised to be the favorite for the county's top law enforcement official.

The 51-year-old pointed to how he has worked in the jail, patrol and detectives departments of the agency. He is also a former Coeur d'Alene city councilman and has a law enforcement degree from North Idaho College.

"I think it's not only my experience in the Sheriff's Office, but in this community," Wolfinger said. "I've been involved throughout this community for a long, long time. People are looking for a sheriff who not only knows the Sheriff's Office, but also the community."

If elected, Wolfinger would serve a four-year term.

The county sheriff is responsible for a department of 300 employees, an annual budget of roughly $25 million and overseeing the 325-bed jail.

"I don't feel overwhelmed at all," said Wolfinger, whose current duties include managing the Support Services Bureau and acting as the department's public information officer. "I came into this race being the only candidate who's worked and supervised all aspects of the Sheriff's Office."

His plans include meeting the commissioners on addressing jail overcrowding, he said.

"We'll continue to look at different options," Wolfinger said.

Watson served as sheriff from 1977 to 1981 and then from 1999 to this year.