Republican Linda Besler ahead in DeKalb County coroner race

DeKalb County will have a new face assuming the head of the coroner’s office on Tuesday for the first time since 1984, and if unofficial results hold, it’ll be Republican Linda Besler.

Polls closed at 7 p.m. and unofficial results are expected to begin trickling in Tuesday night.

Race results are not certified until two weeks after the election.

Republican Linda Besler faced off against Democrat Cat Prescott to replace Dennis Miller, who announced in September 2023 that he won’t seek reelection to his 11th term as coroner. That means the office could have a new face for the first time since 1984.

With 69 out of 69 precincts reporting, Besler grabbed 25,690 votes, or 56%, compared to Prescott’s 20,057 votes, or 43%, according to the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder’s Office.

Prescott said she’s proud of what her campaign has accomplished.

“I fully believe that people should have a choice,” Prescott said. “Offices shouldn’t run unopposed.”

Besler was not immediately available by press time.

Besler has 10 years experience working as a dispatcher for the DeKalb Police Department and has been working the past four years as an administrative deputy coroner under the current coroner. Prescott has an undergraduate degree in rehabilitation and disability services, along with a Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling with a specialization in trauma and grief.

This story was updated at 12:31 a.m. Nov. 6, 2024. More updates could occur.