Page wins third term as White County Sheriff

After months of campaigning, community events, and a closely watched race, White County voters have decided who will lead the Sheriff's Office for the next four years.

Incumbent Steve Page was elected to a third term Thursday night, defeating independent challenger Daniel Trivette by a margin that remained remarkably steady throughout the evening as vote totals were released.

The campaign had been one of the most visible and heavily discussed local races leading into the Aug. 6 election. While Page secured the Republican nomination unopposed during the May primary, Trivette had been campaigning since late August 2025, giving the race nearly a year of public appearances, community conversations and debates over the future of the Sheriff's Office.

In the final months before Election Day, both candidates held multiple meet-and-greet events across the county while outlining different visions for the department. Trivette centered much of his campaign on increasing deputy training and implementing operational changes, while Page pointed to accomplishments during his tenure, including the certification of the White County Jail and the expansion of several programs within the Sheriff's Office.

Supporters of both candidates remained active throughout the campaign, particularly on social media, helping make the sheriff's race one of the most talked-about contests on the local ballot.

Election night reflected that interest.

Both campaigns gathered with supporters at separate watch parties as polls closed at 7 p.m. However, because voters were still waiting in line at multiple precincts, election officials delayed releasing the first results until all eligible voters had cast their ballots.

Just after 7:30 p.m., the first unofficial totals showed Page leading 56 percent to 44 percent.

As additional precincts reported throughout the evening, the margin changed very little. Although Trivette carried the Election Day vote in District 1, the overall countywide percentages never shifted by more than about half of a percentage point.

When all votes were counted, Page finished with 3,811 votes, or 56.69 percent, while Trivette received 2,912 votes, or 43.31 percent.

The victory secures another four-year term for Page, who thanked voters shortly after the results became official.

"Thank you White County. I am so honored, grateful, and certainly blessed to be your Sheriff for four more years," Page said. "I promise to keep working hard to keep this beautiful county safe and moving forward. I am so proud to say I did run a clean and respectful race the whole way through. God bless you all and thank you again from the bottom of my heart."

Trivette also addressed supporters following the election, thanking those who backed his campaign while urging the community to unite behind local law enforcement.

"Last night, the race has ended and while we did not get the results we would have preferred, we ended it just like I promised," Trivette said. "To my supporters, thank you for your overwhelming support and dedication during this process."

He went on to encourage residents to support law enforcement regardless of the outcome.

"The end of a race means that a new chapter is starting in this county," Trivette said. "Please join me in supporting our law enforcement officers across our county. These individuals risk their lives on a daily basis to protect each of us. Please join me in congratulating Steve Page on his win and supporting him as this county moves forward. He and every officer in this county deserve our prayers and respect as they work to protect us. The voters have spoken, and it's time to lay the signs down and join together as a community to protect our values as we move forward."

With the election decided, Page will continue serving as White County Sheriff as he begins his third term in office.