Republican candidate Noel Brown swept away with the votes in the race for the Bulloch County sheriff’s seat Tuesday, with 15,924 votes to 7,948 votes for Democratic candidate Keith Howard — a 66.71 percent lead over Howard’s 33.29 percent. Both men were vying for the seat which will be vacated by current Sheriff Lynn Anderson, who announced last spring that he will retire at the end of the year. The sheriff’s race was a lively one, with Brown first overcoming Republican opponent Jared Akins, who is currently Bulloch County’s chief deputy, in the general primary.