The Wichita County Commissioners Court appointed Will Rutledge on Aug. 26 to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff David Duke through Dec. 31, 2026, voting 5-0. The court said an election will follow: primaries in March and a general election in November to elect a sheriff for the next full term.

County leaders said the appointment is intended to preserve continuity in day-to-day operations. “I've looked for the transition to be smooth moving forward,” Rutledge said after the appointment, describing his eight years on command staff and his role during recent operations.

Why it matters: The sheriff's office is the county's largest departmental budget and oversees the jail and field deputies; commissioners emphasized steady leadership while the public prepares for a future contested election. Commissioners and county staff praised Rutledge's experience on payroll and operations, and several speakers said relations between the sheriff's office and other county offices have been cooperative.

During the public discussion and court remarks, officials noted there had been no public requests to change the county's appointment process. One commissioner summarized that Rutledge had been the sheriff's second-in-command and that the court had received positive feedback from the public about his selection.

Formal action: Commissioner Jeff Watts made the motion to appoint Rutledge; Commissioner Fincannon seconded. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote, 5-0.

The court did not set additional duties or policy changes as part of the appointment; Rutledge and other officials described the role as maintaining existing operations and reviewing policies where small "tweaks" might be needed. The court said the appointment covers the remainder of the current elected term, with the next elections proceeding through the normal primary and general schedules.

The item included multiple speakers from the sheriff's office and county leadership who described operational cooperation, recent projects (including the LEC project), and the role of deputies in supporting probation and detention operations. No new ordinance, policy change, or budget appropriation accompanied the appointment.