Concordia Parish voters punched the button on Saturday for the man they wanted to be their next sheriff, but the descriptor next to the name could have been much longer.

The top lawman in Louisiana parishes — particularly in Concordia, home to a sizeable prison — is much more than simply the highest law enforcement officer.

The person in that position also serves as CEO of one of the largest “businesses” in the community.

The sheriff oversees 260 employees, 1,500 prisoners and approximately $15 million in public funds.

That’s a great amount of responsibility that comes with the badge and gun.

Parish voters overwhelmingly selected Kenneth Hedrick as their next sheriff on Saturday.

With three candidates running in the race, Hedrick’s nearly 52 percent vote total was impressive.

We congratulate Hedrick on the win and congratulate all the candidates for running a seemingly clean race.

Hedrick has big shoes to fill as he prepares to step into the role that has been filled by long-time sheriff Randy Maxwell, who is retiring after more than two decades on the job.

We’re confident Hedrick will be up to the task, and we know that Maxwell’s administration will work hard to make the transition a smooth one.

Congratulations to both men along with a big “thank you” for their service to our community. Both are appreciated and respected.