FIRST WOMAN AND OPENLY LESBIAN SHERIFF ELECTED IN CINCINNATI

Charmaine McGuffey will now lead the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office in Cincinnati, the first woman and first openly lesbian sheriff, according to a report from KCRA 3 News.

McGuffey, a Democrat, defeated her Republican opponent Bruce Hoffbauer. She also bested incumbent Sheriff Jim Neil for the Democratic primary in April.

McGuffey becomes the first woman to be elected as sheriff in Hamilton County, as well as the first openly lesbian sheriff in Ohio, according to reports.

McGuffey celebrated her victory among supporters at the Hamilton County Justice Center on Wednesday morning.

"I am so humbled and I am honored to have been elected by the Hamilton County voters as your next sheriff," said the sheriff-elect.

Deputies and law enforcement offered their support, several saying Wednesday that this was a huge moment for the department.

"I can't explain this, but it's amazing. It's a breath of fresh air," said deputy Lawrence Briggs.

It was a day that McGuffey herself couldn't have imagined.

"When I was 14 and a little girl, I was told ‘No way. You can never even be a police officer because you're a girl, because you're a woman.’ And look where we stand today."

McGuffey says she is looking to bring change to the department, starting with ways to keep communities safe while addressing racial inequity in the system and moving toward prison reform.

"This situation right here — this jail — we will present opportunities to people to get on with their lives so they are not stuck in our criminal justice system.”

Moving forward McGuffey says she's going to be building a team that represents the direction she wants the department to go in.