PIERCE COUNTY, Washington — With 8,000 votes left to count in Pierce County, sheriff candidate Keith Swank declared victory.

Swank is currently ahead of Patti Jackson by nearly 8,000 votes. This is a race for a new sheriff, as current Sheriff Ed Troyer is not running for re-election.

Swank has lived in Pierce County for 20 years, but spent most of his career with the Seattle Police Department. Jackson has been with PCSD for 35 years. She has worked most of her career at the county jail, but currently serves as chief of patrol operations.

As the final votes came in Wednesday, KOMO News interviewed both candidates. Swank is already assembling his management team.

“The other thing that’s going on is they (the sheriff’s department) are in the middle of contract negotiations and they’re at a standstill. I’m going to work on that before I even get in there,” Swank said.

Given Swank’s tenure at SPD, he knows how collective bargaining can negatively impact the recruitment and retention of officers, like the Seattle Police Department was also the subject of contractual negotiations this caused problems.

He believes he can solve this problem and also address the constant challenges Pierce County faces, like shootings, motor vehicle thefts, street racing and homelessness.

“One of the first things we’re going to do is look at our staffing and how we have our resources,” Swank said. KOMO News reporter Paul Rivera asked Swank if he would make a commitment to residents that things would improve with him as Sheriff. “I can commit to it, yes,” he replied.

Swank’s challenger, Patti Jackson, said she hasn’t called him yet and will wait for the votes to be counted. That said, she is proud of her campaign.

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“The fact that I have had the support of the community is truly humbling and I am very grateful,” Jackson said.

Jackson believes the agency will be able to solve the community’s problems.

“I think we’ve gone backwards in the sense that lawlessness has kind of taken over, and now our community is sending a very strong message that says, ‘not in Pierce County.’

The results of the next vote are expected Thursday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.