Jeremy Kilpatrick turned back Democratic challenger Gary Murphree Tuesday night to gain a second term as coroner.

Kilpatrick held nearly 80 percent of the vote with only a few boxes remaining to be counted. Murphree, a former four-term coroner, congratulated Kilpatrick before the final tally of the night.

“Running for office anytime is challenging, but I’m thankful for the support today,” Kilpatrick said. “It was a good race.”

Kilpatrick said he will continue to speak out on issues in the community concerning preventable deaths, such as suicide. In the last two years he documented suicide cases and reported those to the public.

“Anytime I see an issue through the coroner’s office that needs to come to people’s attention, I will do so,” Kilpatrick said. “I want to continue to be proactive for our community so that we can solve issues.”

Kilpatrick said he is also considering working toward a special national certification for the local coroner’s office in the future as he enters his second term.

Murphree didn’t discuss any future plans in politics.

“I congratulate Jeremy and all the winners tonight,” Murphree said. “All I could do was put myself out there and let the people decide. Straight-ticket voting had a big impact here and across the state.”

Murphree also said the coroner’s office is not a position he views by political parties.

“It’s an office of serving the people through difficult times,” Murphree said. “The only time politics enters into this office is when it’s election time.”

With all 50 precincts reporting in Cullman County, Kilpatrick won 22,550 votes. Murphree finished with 5,876 votes.