Shortly after declaring victory in the winner-take-all Democratic primary for Orange-Osceola County state attorney, Jeff Ashton received congratulations from an unexpected source -- Casey Anthony's father.
Ashton was one of the prosecutors in Anthony's murder trial in 2011.
But outside Ashton's campaign headquarters Tuesday night, George Anthony showed nothing but support for the man who once tried to send his daughter to death row.
"He's going to do everything the right way," said George Anthony. "He wants to be in the courtroom. He wants to direct, he wants to be involved in every single case, and I think he will be. You can't just direct everything behind a desk."
Ashton defeated his former boss, longtime state attorney Lawson Lamar, in a heated race. We heard from both of them in an exclusive News 13 debate just last month.
Lamar said when he wakes up Wednesday, the state attorney's office will continue to work just as it had before. "I have been proud of my work done over eight terms," he told supporters at his party at Club Firestone in Orlando.
"Our work is not done, it will be over on January 1, 2013, when we hand our office over... to the successor," Lamar said.
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Lamar has held the position for more than two decades and said the office is working, and will continue under new leadership.
Ashton, meanwhile promised to be a more visible state attorney than Lamar has been.
"This has been an amazing experience for me," Ashton said at his party. "It has been so gratifying for me."
Both Lamar and Ashton are Democrats. There was a Republican in the race as well, but he dropped out before qualifying.
Ashton joked about that. "I also want to thank those Republican out there who may have voted for their first Democrat ever."
He also said he would end cronyism and improve morale in the office.