Tim Chapman/PCT Sheriff-elect Josh Siegler poses with wife Kelsey at a celebration gathering with supporters Tuesday at the American Legion Club in Memorial Hall.

There’s a new sheriff in town.

Challenger Josh Siegler defeated Pierce County Sheriff Matthew Lunde in the general election Tuesday with 61 percent of the vote, or 1,168 votes to Lunde’s 723.

“The outpouring of support has been very overwhelming and I want to thank everyone for that,” Siegler said.

Siegler will take office in January 2015. He said he is “looking forward to working with” the county commissioners, as well as Mike Graner and the staff at the Heart of America Correctional and Treatment Center. Siegler also said he is interested in improving the relationship the sheriff’s department has with the Rugby Police Department.

Before serving in his current posting as a deputy with the Ward County Sheriff’s Department, Siegler served as a deputy for four years in Pierce County. He was also a sheriff’s deputy in Benson County before serving in the Marine Corps.

Lunde, a native of Davenport, served for nine years as a deputy in Pierce County before being appointed Pierce County Sheriff in late 2009. He succeeded Robert Graber, who retired that year.

Prior to becoming a deputy, Lunde served as a police officer in Forman for two years and part-time as an officer in Rugby for eight years.

“I will miss serving the people of Pierce County, and I will never forget all the wonderful friends, employees and coworkers,” Lunde said.

Lunde said he has received job offers from many departments but, “We still and always feel that Pierce County will be home to us.”