Republican Roberts claims constable win

Republican Bret Roberts soundly defeated Democrat opponent Dennis Howerton in the constable election.

Roberts unofficially received 2,979 votes, 61 percent, to Howerton's 1,911, 39 percent. There were 25 write-in votes, constituting less than 1 percent of the total.

Roberts attributes his victory to hard work and a message that resonated with voters: "I would say a year's worth of hard work, knocking on doors, talking to people. I think people liked the aspect of when I started my campaign I said I wanted to bring the position to the community's perspective and, for the lack of a better term, educate the community on what the constable does. And just for the sheer fact that it's a taxpayer-paid position , I feel Arizona elected officials should be involved in the community; at least enough that the community's aware the position exists."

Official results may not be known until next week as some provisional, conditional provisional and early ballots have yet to be counted.