ORANGE COUNTY -- Sheriff Kevin Beary will leave his post in November.

However, a war of words is heating up between Beary and one of the men in the running to replace him.

Beary said Republican candidate John Tegg has been telling lies during the campaign.

Beary also claimed Tegg has misled the public about his experience. Beary said Tegg has no clue how to manage such a large, diverse organization.

Tegg, though, said it's Beary who has it all wrong.

"His tenure with the sheriff's office was a downward spiral and a reduction of responsibilities, which is why after his discipline he went to political gadfly Doug Guetzloe to get a job with the city of Edgewood and its 10 man department," Beary said.

"They like to, my opponent and (Beary), both like to refer to my last two years at Edgewood as being a smaller department, which it is. But they seem to forget the 27 years that I was at the sheriff's office," said Tegg. "Matter of fact, it was the sheriff, himself, that promoted me to captain and to chief."

Tegg said he's disappointed at what he's calling "gutter politics" by Beary.

Tegg will face off against Democrat Jerry Demings on Nov. 4. 

You can watch a debate between Demings and Tegg on News 13, Tuesday Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. Click here to submit a question for the debate.

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