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Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti Responds To Election Defeat

POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) – Sheriff Al Lamberti  took to the radio Wednesday on 850 WFTL to defend his five years as Broward sheriff, one day after being unseated by Democratic opponent Scott Israel.

He also addressed attack ads which he called a pack of insulting, absurd lies.

"Especially a lot of those things definitely were not factual," said Al Lamberti.  "Like I said on the radio station, about the anti-gay, about the racial profiling, I have two grand kids who are African-American, one is 11 one is 6. Why would I encourage racial profiling?"

Political experts say one reason Lamberti may have lost is because he's a Republican in a very Democratic county.

"I just voted Democrat all the way around," said voter Carolyn Miller. "I don't know Sheriff Israel or who ever, as long as they treat people right I don't care who wins."

"Victims aren't Republican or Democrat," said Lamberti, "They're people and I stand for victims."

Sheriff-elect Israel said he was on the receiving end of negative attack ads last time he ran against Lamberti 4 years ago.  Now that he won,- he plans to make some changes in the agency of 6000 employees.

"As I say, " said Israel."An army of lion lead by a deer is always going to be defeated by an army of deer lead by a lion.  And I want to provide the leadership to the men and women over there that's going to allow them to do their jobs because they're so talented."

Israel promises people can expect an open, accountable agency on his watch.

"We will reduce crime; we will enhance the quality of life for the citizens we serve.  We'll make mistakes, of course, we'll own up to them.  You'll see me looking in the camera and explaining the mistakes and how they happened and why they won't happen again," he said.

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