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EDINA, MO. -- It's believed to be a first in Knox County: a woman is running for sheriff.

Debbie Kincaid of Edina, a democrat, will go up against incumbent Sheriff Mike Kite in the August primary, and the winner of that race will face the winner of the republican primary in November.

In recent years, Kincaid has served as a sheriff's deputy in Randolph county and a police officer in LaPlata.

At the suggestion of a friend, she decided to move back to Knox County and run for sheriff.

For those who are skeptical about a woman being sheriff, Kincaid assured KTVO she can hold her own.

“I've had some smart comments about, you know, ‘'We can take you. We're a man.' and stuff, and it's just like, ‘'Well sir, I'd prefer not to show you but, you know, I don't back down, and if you really want to, then, you know, all you have to do is take one step to me, and I will enforce the law,'" Kincaid said.

Kincaid told KTVO she was raised outside Knox City with eight brothers, so she's used to standing up for herself.

If elected, she said she would try to make sure law enforcement officials and the community are pulling in the same direction because public involvement is needed to help her do her job.