BROOKINGS – Republican Dan Nelson was elected the new Brookings County state’s attorney Tuesday night in a hotly contested race with incumbent Teree Nesvold, who ran as an Independent.

In the state’s attorney race, a total of 11,350 people voted for one of the two candidates. A total of 11,870 ballots were cast in Brookings County. Nelson secured 52 percent of the vote (5,908 votes) compared to Nesvold’s 48 percent (5,442 votes).

Nelson said he was excited for the chance to serve Brookings County as its state’s attorney.

“It’s a tremendous honor to represent the voters here, and I’m committed to working tirelessly on their behalf representing their interests and values in the courtroom and pursuing justice,” Nelson said.

He also thanked Nesvold for her hard work in serving Brookings County.

Among his priorities once he assumes office is the creation of a diversion program for first-time, nonviolent offenders.

“I think that need is great, and I’m going to begin implementing that diversion program right away when I take office. Another priority is we have a felony drug problem here in Brookings County, and I am looking forward to working with our law enforcement agencies to confront that problem and make Brookings County an even safer place,” Nelson said.

With his election, he will serve a two-year term to fill out the remaining years of former Brookings County State’s Attorney Abigail Howard, who resigned at the start of the year in order to serve as a magistrate judge for the Third Judicial Circuit.

When the position is up again on the 2020 ballot, it will be for the full four-year term. Nesvold was appointed by Brookings County commissioners in February to take on the role of state’s attorney until the end of the year.

Contact Eric Sandbulte at esandbulte@brookingsregister.com.