Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputy Kurt Freitag and incumbent Sheriff Bob Kindler survived the primary election on Tuesday to move ahead in what has become an increasingly heated race.

Freitag received 1,454 votes — or 37.88 percent — while Kindler received 1,253 — or 32.65 percent. Deputy Dale Glazier received a close third of 1,131 votes — or 29.47 percent, according to preliminary results.

“It’s humbling that so many people have put their faith into my platform and me, and I look forward to following through with the things I’ve talked about,” Freitag said. “It’s citizens first, and everything else is secondary.”

Freitag, 47, who lives west of Albert Lea, has spent 21 years in law enforcement and campaigned on multiple issues he thought were lacking in Kindler’s administration, including leadership. He said he wants to increase patrol presence, increase quality investigations and improve overall services to county residents, among others. He said he also hopes to increase the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees being held at the Freeborn County jail.

Kindler, 55, of Albert Lea Township, was elected as sheriff in 2010 but started as a patrol deputy in 1987.

He argued his strong law enforcement and business background set him apart from the other candidates and pointed to cutting wasted spending, reorganizing the department and launching the new ARMER radio system as successes.

“I’m very satisfied to have made it onto the next step in the general election,” Kindler said. “The competition was obviously very close.”

Glazier, 50, who lives northeast of Albert Lea, said he would throw his support behind Freitag, though he would have rather moved ahead himself.

“We tried,” Glazier said. “We ran a good campaign, and I’m happy with what we did. It is what it is.”

The results followed a tense debate last week at Albert Lea City Hall where Freitag and Glazier accused Kindler of having weak leadership, a top-heavy administration and poor communication.

At that point, Kindler called his opponents “misinformed” or even “false,” and pointed to his strengths from the last four years. He said integrity is part of his campaign slogan.

As he moves ahead into the general election, Kindler said he plans to look at the primary results from each precinct and develop a strategy on how to move forward campaigning.

Freitag said he planned to take “a breather” for the next couple days before he continues with his door-to-door campaign. He plans to speak with area organizations and to continue spreading his message on Facebook and other social media.

Glazier said if Kindler is re-elected in November, he may consider running a second time for office in four years.