Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac Jr. has held off challenger Ed Kmetz to serve another four-year term. Mail-in ballots were counted Wednesday.

Yanac, a Democrat who defeated longtime coroner Bob Allen in 2017, said, “It is my passion to continue to be the voice for those who have lost theirs, to ensure that the deceased are treated with honor, respect and dignity, and to provide honest answers and peace of mind to their families.”

Yanac, who was behind when the results were tallied Tuesday, had 15,204 votes.

Kmetz, a Republican from Hamilton Township, garnered 11,668 unofficial votes.

The current salary, according to public records, is $69,026. Both ran active campaigns, with signs throughout the county.