The only thing clear about the Fulton County Sheriff's Office after Tuesday: Myron Freeman's days running it are numbered.

The sheriff's crushing defeat Tuesday at the hands of former FBI agent Ted Jackson ensures Freeman's tenure will be limited to four years and will end at year's end.

His loss has people who monitor, are employed by and involved with the Sheriff's Office anticipating change.

Still, no one's sure whether Jackson, the Democratic nominee, or Republican Mike Rary will be effective as Fulton's top elected law enforcement officer.

"When I went to work this morning, the whole atmosphere at roll call was lighter," said Carolyn Cizer, head of the deputies union. "People are excited about change."

Freeman's tenure as sheriff has been marked by controversy.

Just three months into his run, Brian Nichols, who was on trial for rape, broke away from custody and allegedly went on a rampage that left a judge, court reporter, deputy and federal agent all dead.

The sheriff was roundly criticized for the incident and how he responded when staffers were found to have made several mistakes. Later, he was criticized by local judges for his slow response to improving courthouse security.

And, he's often been at odds with a federal judge who's overseeing a consent decree aimed at improving jail conditions.

There's a hearing on that order in September to assess how Freeman responded. By then the sheriff will be nearly four months away from. No one's sure how that will affect the lawsuit or the hearing.

Calvin Lightfoot, who was appointed to monitor the jail for the judge, said he doesn't know either Rary or Jackson.

"The most important thing is for the consent order to be complied with," Lightfoot said. "I'm hoping the new person will take the order seriously. I don't feel Myron Freeman took it as seriously as he should."

William Boone, a political scientist at Clark Atlanta University, said Fulton's history of voting heavily for Democrats should give Jackson a clear edge headed into the fall campaign season.