Gerald Dwyer is looking forward to holding public office for the first time.

On Tuesday night Dwyer, 61, a Democrat, was elected Wakarusa Township clerk. He defeated Republican Steve Brown by an unofficial vote count of 449 to 350.

Dwyer is a rural Lawrence farmer. Brown, 47, is a Douglas County sheriff’s lieutenant. Neither of the candidates said he campaigned for the job. Dwyer said he thought he won because the people in the township know him.

“I’m just an old man who has been living in the neighborhood a long time,” he said.

All other township clerk candidates were unopposed. The unofficial results:

¢ Clinton Township: Republican Jim Baldwin, 252; write-in, 9.

¢ Grant Township: Republican Randall J. Hartford, 118; write-in, 10.

¢ Kanwaka Township: Republican Jeanne M. Waisner, 519; write-in, 8.

¢ Lecompton Township: Republican Michael A. Stewart, 560; write-in, 12.

¢ Palmyra Township: Republican Janet Ballinger, 1,772; write-in 66.

¢ Willow Springs Township: Republican Jerry E. Smith, 445; write-in, 10.

¢ Eudora Township: Republican Jim Gabriel, 1,583; write-in, 46.

¢ Marion Township: Republican Frank Rhodes, 269; write-in, 12.