Democrat R. Jay Fisher overcame an early lead by Republican opponent Norman M. Pepersack Jr. last night to capture the position of Baltimore County sheriff by 8,000 votes.

Fisher, 53, a veteran Baltimore City police lieutenant who lives in Cockeysville, said, "I am flabbergasted, I am so excited."

For Pepersack, a comfortable lead by Fisher was not enough to make him concede last night. "I ran a good race but we will wait and see," Pepersack said. "There are absentee ballots to count and that could help me. If not, if he wins, God bless him."

Pepersack, 68, of Perry Hall was defeated by current Sheriff Anne K. Strasdauskas four years ago. He had served as sheriff from 1990-1998 before losing to Strasdaukas.

Fisher trounced Strasdauskas in September's Democratic primary after she became embroiled in several issues regarding her public office, including questions about ethics violations.

Excluding judgeships, incumbents took the remaining courthouse positions.

Longtime Circuit Court clerk Suzanne Mensh, a Democrat, beat Republican William "Bill" Hill, a clerk in her office, by more than 40,000 votes.

In the race for Register of Wills, incumbent Grace G. Connolly soundly defeated a challenge from Republican George W. McCarter, a state mediator.

The incumbent Orphans' Court judges, Democrats Theresa A. Lawler, Julie L. Ensor and Gloria J. Butta also kept their jobs, taking tens of thousands more votes than Republicans Louis Luperini, Ray Allen and John Bunch.

Sun staff writer Stephanie Hanes contributed to this report.