By ALLISON WOOD Staff Writer

MEDINA TWP. — It was a dark evening for supporters of Republican sheriff challenger David Centner who filled the Red Onion bar in Brunswick Hills Township.

Sheriff Neil Hassinger won with 12,504 votes to Centner’s 5,264, according to unofficial results from the Medina County Board of Elections.

“It doesn’t matter how it turns out,” Centner said earlier Tuesday evening. “We all still win; we were part of the system.”

The vote comes after a contentious campaign in which Centner claimed Hassinger’s mismanagement of the sheriff’s office could open up the county to lawsuits.

After arriving at the Red Onion in Brunswick Hills Town-ship on Tuesday night, David Centner (center) checks the early results on a lone working laptop in the establishment darkened by a power outage. Centner lost his bid to unseat Medina County Sheriff Neil Hassinger. (Shirley Ware | Photo Editor)

“Negativity doesn’t work in Medina County,” said Hassinger, who spent the evening taking down campaign signs. “People here are too intelligent.”

Since there were no Democratic challengers, Hassinger won his fourth four-year term.

Centner supporter Joe Pierce, who stayed at the Red Onion despite the lack of power, said he and his wife Barb came there because of their close friendship with Centner.

“This shows you what people think of him,” said the Montville Township resident, who was a former neighbor of Centner’s. “I think he really deserves the job.”

Centner arrived at the bar late after coming from his Sharon Township home, which also had lost power. He has been battling pneumonia for more than a week and rested in bed most of the weekend.

“I’m not surprised,” he said about the high turnout at the Red Onion, which lost power after 8 p.m. “I’m here with all my friends and family.”

In the weeks before the election, Centner questioned the sheriff’s management style and budgeting decisions.

In December, Centner challenged the law enforcement credentials of three deputies. They have been placed on administrative duties since early January and their credentials are still being resolved.

In late January, Centner said he was forced to resign his position as a sergeant with the North Royalton Police Department after Hassinger threatened to sue the city.

State law forbids civil servants from running for partisan political office. Hassinger denied claims he called North Royalton Mayor Bob Stefanik about Centner’s campaign.

While Hassinger had the support of all three county commissioners and many other county officials, the union representing sheriff’s office employees voted last month to endorse Centner by a vote of 70 to 19. About 150 of the 180 employees at the sheriff’s office are union members.

Hassinger, 69, of Wadsworth, was first elected as sheriff in 1996 after beating three other challengers. He was a former lieutenant with the Medina post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Centner, 45, is a former sheriff’s lieutenant who left for the North Royalton Police department shortly after Hassinger took office in 1997.

The sheriff’s position pays $84,522 annually.

Wood may be reached at 330-721-4050 or allisonwood@ohio.net.