A former Bend City Council member has unseated the Deschutes County district attorney, in a rare upset against an Oregon incumbent.

Unofficial Deschutes County Results

John Hummel had received 59.7 percent of the vote to become Deschutes County’s chief prosecutor, in unofficial results early Wednesday.

Hummel doesn’t get the job until January, but he says he’s ready, “Last night was a win for public safety,” he said.

“We campaigned on a platform of keeping Deschutes County safe by preventing crime. You know, drug and alcohol treatment, mental health treatment and youth prevention programs in addition to prosecution is the best formula for community safety. We’ll be working with the community to figure out how we can best together prevent crime. That’s the best way to keep our community safe.”

Patrick Flaherty received over 40 percent of the vote. His tenure has been tumultuous. He fired three deputy DAs, and those attorneys then sued.

Last summer, the state settled the case, which after legal fees, cost the taxpayers roughly $1 million.

When Flaherty won office four years ago, he unseated another incumbent.

Click here to read OPB’s earlier coverage of this race.

This story originally appeared on Oregon Public Broadcasting.