Printer-friendly Republican Endorsements
US Senate
Sen. Richard Burr decided that 18 years in the Senate was enough and, unlike a lot of senators and members of Congress in Washington, who serve until they are sent home in a box, Burr is retiring.
Open Senate seats don’t happen very often and this one has attracted 14 Republicans candidates.
The Republican ballot comes down to three marque candidates – 13th District Congressman Ted Budd, former Gov. Pat McCrory and former 6th District Congressman Mark Walker. Marjorie Eastman has been included in some of the debates, but the highest polling numbers for her that I could find have her at 3 percent.
Walker in the polling has been stuck around 10 percent for months and, according to the campaign finance reports, doesn’t have the money on hand for a huge last minute push. Walker was the first major candidate in the race when he announced his candidacy on Dec. 1, 2020, and he has been traveling the state ever since. However, it takes big money to run a successful statewide campaign and Walker so far has not been able to raise it.
In primaries, two major considerations for voters are which candidate they are most in agreement with politically and also which candidate has the best chance to win in November.
McCrory has been able to raise enough money to run a competent statewide campaign, but McCrory, who is a moderate Republican, has a history of losing statewide races to big name Democrats. McCrory lost the governor’s race in 2008 to Bev Perdue and the 2016 race to Gov. Roy Cooper. McCrory did win the governor’s race in 2012, defeating Walter Dalton, and if you could come up with that name without looking it up, then you are a true political aficionado. While governor, McCrory developed the bad habit of vetoing bills passed by the Republican state legislature and then having the legislature override his veto. It almost seemed like McCrory was out to prove that he was out of step with his own fellow elected Republicans from across the state.
Walker and Budd are both conservatives with six years in Congress. Budd has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, which is big, and also has the support of the super PAC the Club for Growth, which is pouring millions of dollars into his campaign.
Budd also has the endorsement of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, which is more meaningful than most endorsement because Robinson and Walker are both from Greensboro and are friends.
McCrory started the election season with a lead in the polls. The Budd campaign said this was based on name recognition and that once Budd started his advertising campaign the McCrory lead would vanish, and that turned out to be true. The most recent polls show Budd with a double digit lead.
Vote for Ted Budd.
US Congress 6th District
Seven candidates have filed in the 6th District congressional Republican primary. The winner will be facing Democratic 6th District Congresswoman Kathy Manning in the November election in a district that leans heavily Democratic.
Lee Haywood ran against Manning in 2020 and did a credible job in a 6th District that was even more Democratic than the current one, and he deserves the chance to give it another try. It’s going to be a tough race for a Republican to win, but Haywood has proven he is willing to campaign hard. With the new district and the fact that Republicans are projected to win big in 2022, Haywood has a much better chance of winning than he did in 2020.
Christian Castelli has raised more money than any other Republican candidate, enough to send out several direct mail pieces to the Republicans in the 6th District. He is a retired US Army Special Forces lieutenant colonel and is in favor of increased defense spending and against the current effort to subject the military to the woke leftist philosophy. But Castelli doesn’t live in the 6th District. Castelli is registered to vote in Southern Pines and his campaign address is in Asheboro.
Members of Congress aren’t required to live in their districts. The only requirement is that they live in the same state as the district they represent, but the 6th District deserves to have a member of Congress who lives in and knows the 6th District.
Also running in this race are Dr. Maryann Contogiannis, Laura Pichardo, Bill Schuch, Gerry Austin and Marvin Boguslawski. According to campaign finance reports, none has raised enough money for the primary to indicate they could be competitive in the general election.
Lee Haywood in the 6th District.
NC Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 5
In the Republican primary for the North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 5, two candidates – NC Appeals Court Judge April Wood and Trey Allen – are running hard for the nomination.
One candidate, Victoria E. Prince, doesn’t appear to be running at all. Prince has no campaign web presence that we could find, which is extremely unusual for a candidate running in a statewide race.
The Carolina Journal opined that having Prince in the race would hurt Wood by splitting the female vote and help Allen.
Wood touts her experience on the Court of Appeals and as a District Court judge, noting that she is the only candidate in this race for North Carolina’s highest court with any judicial experience and would be the only NC Supreme Court justice with trial court experience.
Allen is a professor at the NC School of Government and general counsel at the state Administrative Office of the Courts appointed by North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby. Allen also clerked for Newby, and on Allen’s Facebook page Newby praises Allen as a “constitutional conservative” and states, “I would be honored to serve with him.”
Two factors weigh in Wood’s favor. One is her experience as a judge and the other is that whoever wins is going to face North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Sam Ervin IV in the general election in November. North Carolina voters have shown a tendency to vote for women judges, which could be why Prince is in the race.
Although both candidates would be a good addition to the NC Supreme Court, Wood is the better choice.
Also, it is worth noting that other than when he is running for office, Justice Ervin is known as Jimmy Ervin, but he is named for his famous grandfather Sen. Sam Ervin, so he has taken that as his nom de politics.
NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 9
Chief Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals Donna Stroud is running for reelection and being challenged in the Republican Primary by District Court Judge Beth Freshwater Smith.
Both candidates have a host of degrees and honors, but Stroud has the experience of being a judge on the Court of Appeals since 2006, and before that served as a District Court judge. As a Court of Appeals judge for 15 years, Stroud has written over 1,000 judicial opinions and is serving her first year as chief judge.
Stroud, because of her experience, is the better choice.
NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 11
Mecklenburg District Court Judge Michael Stading is the better choice in this race.
Stading has served as a District Court judge since 2018 and also served as an assistant district attorney in Mecklenburg County.
Stading is an Air Force veteran who served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG Corps) and is still active in the Air Force Reserve.
Charlton Allen’s relevant experience is as chairman of the NC Industrial Commission.
Both candidates claim to be the true conservative in the race.
Stading has been endorsed by both Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, former Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and Congressman Dan Bishop.
Board of Commissioners At Large
Former District 4 Guilford County Commissioner Alan Branson and former Greensboro firefighter Alvin Robinson are running for the at-large seat on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.
Branson served on the board from 2012 to 2020, when he lost to Commissioner Mary Beth Murphy. Branson was known for stirring things up while he was a commissioner. And even though he is only a candidate, he is stirring things up already with accusations that Guilford County is illegally using tax dollars to promote the $1.7 billion school bond.
Robinson was a Greensboro firefighter and parttime Guilford County deputy sheriff until he was fired for refusing to follow the COVID-19 mandates.
On his campaign website Robinson states, “The restoration of truth and righteousness in local government is the reason why I want to become your next Guilford County Commissioner – At Large.”
It would be good for Guilford County to have Branson back on the Board of Commissioners.
Board of Commissioners District 3
Three candidates are running in the District 3 Guilford County commissioner primary and two stand out.
Guilford County Board of Education member Pat Tillman has served on the school board since 2016, which has given him experience in dealing with large budgets. The Guilford County Schools budget was over $1 billion in this fiscal year. Tillman has been in the Republican minority on the board and has learned to have influence even when you don’t have the votes.
Oak Ridge Town Councilmember George McClellan is serving his third four-year term on the Town Council. Oak Ridge had revenue of $1.9 million and expenditures of $2.6 million. Although property taxes in Oak Ridge are low compared to Greensboro, they are high compared to their neighbors. Oak Ridge has a tax rate of 0.08 cents compared to Stokesdale, which has no property tax, and Summerfield, which has a property tax rate of 0.0225 cents.
Both candidates are conservatives who espouse similar political philosophies.
However, Tillman’s experience in dealing with big budgets and heavily partisan boards makes Tillman the better candidate.
Dan Suter is also a candidate in this race and says his experience as a project manager will translate into being a successful commissioner.
Board of Commissioners District 2
It’s hard to believe that former Commissioner Steve Arnold, who left the Board of Commissioners in 2010 after serving for 20 years, is running in the Republican primary against District 2 Guilford County Commissioner Alan Perdue.
Perdue has been a strong conservative on the board since he was first elected in 2014. Perdue retired as the director of the Guilford County Department of Emergency Services, so he knows county government inside and out. During his first six years on the board, he consistently voted with the Republican majority for major construction projects, like building a new emergency services facility, a new animal shelter and the new behavioral health facility, while at the same time lowering taxes.
Arnold served on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners from 1990 to 2010, when he did not run for reelection. During his last term on the board, Arnold had filed for bankruptcy but was denied bankruptcy protection because of “numerous badges of fraud.” Arnold also convinced the Board of Commissioners to buy the Russell Street Building in High Point from a business partner at a highly inflated price, and that building has been a constant source of problems for the county.
Also, during that last term, a Randolph County judge order that Arnold be jailed for civil contempt because of his failure to cooperate in a lawsuit about a subdivision in Archdale that Arnold’s construction company had worked on.
In political circles, not much had been heard from Arnold in the past 12 years until he filed to run for commissioner.
Perdue has done a good job and deserves another term.
Board of Commissioners District 7
Kenny Abbe and Karen Coble Albright are running in the Republican primary for the District 7 Guilford County commissioner seat.
Because of the way the commissioners’ districts are gerrymandered, it doesn’t make much difference who wins the primary because the chances of the Republican candidate winning in November is somewhere between slim and none. This is a Democratic district that was represented by Carolyn Coleman, who died in January, and is currently represented by Commissioner Frankie Jones, who is running for election.
The endorsement goes to Abbe because he has expressed more concern about local issues, such as the schools, and not national issues, which the commissioners have no control over.
Board of Education District 2
Two candidates are running in the Republican primary for Guilford County Board of Education District 2 – Crissy Pratt and Marc Ridgill.
Crissy Pratt is the better choice. Pratt is a member of the New Vision, New Direction team of candidates that are running to bring change to the Guilford County Schools. It’s impressive that four candidates would choose to join forces and run as a team for the school board, and it makes a good point: Electing one or two new school board members is not going to make much difference. However, electing four school board members who have already been working together would.
Pratt has 20 years of experience in education as a teacher and in curriculum development.
Ridgill is a retired Greensboro police officer who served as a school resource officer for eight years. He wants to bring change to the way the schools are run and the school budget is spent. Ridgill ran for the at-large seat on the school board in 2018 and for an at-large seat on the Greensboro City Council in 2015.
Board of Education District 6
Two strong candidates are running in the Guilford County Board of Education District 4 Republican primary – Tim Andrew and Matthew Kuennen
Tim Andrew is a member of the New Vision, New Direction team and the better choice. If the four-member New Vision, New Direction team wins seats on the Guilford County Board of Education, they can together bring about change – something that a single candidate cannot do on a nine-member board.
Andrew is a retired Marine Corps officer with a bachelor’s degree in information systems management and an MBA from East Carolina University. He is currently a logistics program manager for a defense contractor.
Andrew wants to move the focus of Guilford County Schools to the basic fundamentals of reading, writing, math, science and social studies.
Kuennen is an associate professor in the Congdon School of Health Sciences at High Point University. Kuennen also wants more focus on the fundamentals of education as well as more transparency from the school board and school administration.
Andrew and Kuennen seem to be in agreement on many of the issues facing public education in Guilford County, but Andrew, being part of the New Vision, New Direction team, gives him the edge.
Sheriff
Six Republicans filed to run for Guilford County sheriff to replace current Sheriff Danny Rogers, who was elected in 2018.
Three of those candidates stand out – Phil Byrd, Bill Queen and E.L. Melvin.
The best of these three is Phil Byrd because of his experience in the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department. As a captain under former Sheriff BJ Barnes, Byrd had extensive experience in the many different divisions of the Sheriff’s Department, which entails a lot more than simply investigating crimes.
Queen has a colorful and impressive background, with his experience with the US Border Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). As Queen notes, his ATF experience allowed him to work with law enforcement agencies all across the country and to see what was working and what wasn’t.
Queen, as a bestselling author with a national reputation, would bring some favorable exposure to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department.
Melvin also has extensive law enforcement experience with the North Carolina Highway Patrol and limited experience being the chief deputy for Rogers. Wisely, Melvin resigned from that position after about two months. At the time he said he was leaving for personal reasons, but later he said one reason for his abrupt departure was that Rogers fired 28 deputies because he thought they were loyal to former Sheriff BJ Barnes. Melvin has said that if elected he will offer all of them their jobs back.
Byrd, Queen and Melvin all appear to have what it will take to be a successful sheriff, but Byrd – largely because of his experience in the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department – appears to be the best choice.
The other Republicans running are Adam Perry Moore, Randy Powers and William White.
Printer-friendly Republican Endorsements
Burr decided not to run because he could read the handwriting on the wall. He never stood a chance to be reelected in 2022. He lost his backbone, and can now sleep peacefully under any rock he so chooses.
Yeah, how apropos that Burr’s decision was featured in the RINO times. And I voted for the turncoat.
So “ deserves the chance to give it another try again” is the reason to endorse a candidate? Dear God, seriously John?
Lost his backbone but kept his integrity. Good on him!
Burr said 6 years ago that he would not run again—
I
Worked for him back in 1994 and he was a good
Man, but became a RINO and lost how way and used the position for personal gain. I am ashamed of him. You are correct, he saw the writing!!
Thanks for telling us about the candidates. It helps to make our decision.
People, please do your own research on the Sheriff candidates. Experience is only part of it. These 3 GOP candidates have the most experience, but what will they do when they get in. Melvin tells you. Watch his segment on Fox8. Go to his Facebook and watch more videos there, read what he is about.
Byrd only talks about experience. Queen will be the polar opposite of Danny Rogers. Listen to him; he is too extreme. His fox8 segment, he said he would give new hires a $10,000 sign on bonus. Sounds good, but with 100 vacancies thats $1,000,000. He can’t do that.
The sign on 10,000 dollars was to get experienced
Officers. Training new officers is approximately 50,000 there is a savings of 40,000$.
Billy has fresh and new ideas, he is an innovator and
has the experience to implement them.
Billy, by far, has more education in Criminal Justice
And Gang experience then anyone running.
Did you know he goes all over this country teaching
Law enforcement about Gangs and related gang activities? He has been asked by Australia to
Teach their people just this past month.
Just because Phil Byrd worked in the Sheriffs department 14 years ago, is just not a good enough
Reason for an endorsement. It’s just not! Vote Billy Queen for Guilford County Sheriff and Thank You
I hope GC citizens use their senses and look at the big picture on the table. You certainly need someone bringing more to the table than appetizers. You need the entree. Only one candidate has the full meal…which is the appetizer, meat, vegetables and dessert! That certainly is not Byrd! Good luck Melvin, your resume with plans is top chef!
Melvin quit after a few months because he didn’t like the way things were going. Guilford County doesn’t need a quitter. The Sheriff needs to be thick skinned to lead over 650 employees, deal with the County Commissioners and the population of Guilford County. The job of Sheriff will have bad days, and you just can’t say I don’t like it, pack up your toys and go home. He knew what he was getting into. He is a NO.
Melvin, wasn’t the head man. I can respect leaving and not supporting wrongful doing. Last I checked the Sheriff is the BOSS. Melvin 2nd in command. Duhhh…
Byrd’s experience, knowledge, and common sense is what we need as a Sheriff. He will be tough on crime. Consistence is very important. Billy Queen is too Hollywood. Not much Consistence. He has experience on the borders but that really doesn’t help NC. Melvin is a former Democrat. How do we know that it is not a plan? We need real Republician Leadership. Experience, and knowing how to turn this Department around is what we need in the Guilford County Sheriff Department. Talk to Phil Byrd and Billy Queen and you will know in 5 minutes which will be the best. Phil Byrd grew up, his daughter was born in this county, this is his home. People that live here want the County to be safe to raise their families.
Why would you imply Melvin is a former democrat? I’ve known Melvin for 26 years, he’s always had conservative views. Is it really that difficult for you or the Byrd’s to believe that blacks can belong to a different party besides democrats?
This is the very reason Byrd should not be Sheriff. His way of thinking is completely outdated.
We need new, fresh leadership at the sheriffs office. Not this same old biased thinking that’s going to become a problem for the communities.
Byrd’s experience, knowledge, and common sense is what we need as a Sheriff. He will be tough on crime. Consistence is very important. Billy Queen is too Hollywood. Not much Consistence. He has experience on the borders but that really doesn’t help NC. Melvin is a former Democrat. How do we know that it is not a plan? We need real Republician Leadership. Experience, and knowing how to turn this Department around is what we need in the Guilford County Sheriff Department. Talk to Phil Byrd and Billy Queen and you will know in 5 minutes which will be the best. Phil Byrd grew up, his daughter was born in this county, this is his home. People that live here want the County to be safe to raise their families.
Ms. Hancock. I just personally checked the board of election website. Mr. Melvin has been an independent or a Republican for the past 20 plus years, So what you’re saying is not true. Does Phil Byrd depend on you for his information? Because if he does, then we’re really in trouble if he’s elected. You see how quick you’re spewing totally false information about a candidate. Did Byrd offer you a job?
What a bird brain comment about Mr Melvin.
Do your homework Lorrie Hancock.
Bill Queen will bring newer and fresher ideas as the HIGH SHERIFF.
PLEASE cast your vote for BILL QUEEN he knows law enforcement and has no connection to any of those in the department.
Vote BILLY QUEEN. He doesn’t have the ties that Byrd has to the Department. Byrd would promote his buddies and it will be same old same old. BILLY QUEEN has ideas that worked all across the US. Guilford County needs the fresh ideas to solve crime.
The problem with Billy Queen, besides the fact that he’s too old, is those endorsements. Those politicians endorsing Billy Queen will be expecting something in return. Who knows what promises Billy Queen made just to get some shady endorsement.
Wait a minute! Isn’t Byrd the candidate that has refused to participate in any Minority sponsored Candidates Forum? Wouldn’t that alone give Rogers another 4 years!? I totally disagree with this endorsement because Byrd’s history here at the Sheriffs Office has always been that of bias and questionable behavior. We who worked with Byrd can tell you that he’s certainly NOT who we want!
I have known Phil Byrd since the day he was my ride along partner on a night shift ,after working a shift in the jail. During the time I was still in uniform patrol Division in 1985. Phil conducted himself in public as a professional and attentive Officer. Phil was asking questions the whole shift ,as we answered calls for service. Phil Byrd earned every rank he received. As he rose through the ranks. Phil was my detective Sergeant for three years in district one as our squad leader. He was not a supervisor, Phil was a leader and was well respected by his squad. We had high Moral because he stressed team work and ownership for all of us including himself. So we knew we all where invested right along side Phil. He never stood back and watched us work on our case’s. Phil carried a half case load to help his squad. He was not required to carry a case load. Concerning bias, I never witness Phil exhibit any bias working together with other Officers in the Sheriff’s Office or with other agency’s. Phill has maintained his integrity from the first day we met. I have never witness or heard of any questionable behavior during my 34 year career. I support Phil Byrd for Sheriff of Guilford County. Because he is a smart highly experience and trained leader not a supervisor. If it’s true, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is down 30 patrol Officers. I know for a fact there is a serious morale problem. I worked for Paul Gibson, James Profit, Sticky Burch and BJ Barnes. in a 34 year career, and only one Sheriff had a problem maintaining Patrol Officers because of low morale. It was not Sheriff (Sticky) Burch or B.J. Barnes. Please vote for Phil Bird , I know his leadership will restore High Morale and he will make good decisions that will take the Sheriff’s Office in the right direction.
Thanks for the info David. Very helpful.
Well stated David Shaw. Phil Byrd is the right candidate for this position
Experience in all levels during his working days says a lot He can relate to what each level of employees are facing.
It’s been interesting watching how things are panning out for the GOP candidates for sheriff. I hope and pray that GC citizens exercise their intelligence as they decide who is best fit to LEAD. It takes more than a persons longevity on a job to be considered as best choice. I can work for the same organization 100 years but that would NOT make me best suited to lead. I trust that GC voters will look at the BIG PICTURE, which is who has strong law enforcement background additionally who is sharp and thinks fast but safely…who has proven to make lucrative decisions…who has all the people best interest at heart not just the ones they are most comfortable with. GC sheriff office ultimately deserves a leader who will respect and shape new leaders along the way. I see this role as a Ed Melvin role. Good luck Mr Melvin.
Probably quit when the job gets tuff, frustrating or hard.
Glenn, integrity matters to some people.
What is wrong with you people? Why would anyone want someone that is stuck in their past? BJ Barnes was voted out of office bc our world is not the same as it was. I am so sick of the “same old guy ideas” that the Republican party is stuck on. Its time we move forward….NOT GO BACKWARDS! We need someone that can reach across party lines and gain those other votes to BEAT the Democrats in November…Byrd and Queen cannot beat the Democrats!!! The best choice is William White..hes young, experienced, NOT STUCK IN HIS WAYS, and can bring new ideas to the department. Hes been through hell and back and hasnt given up yet. Hes a true fighter!!!
White would make a good Sheriff, we need someone new.
How old is Queen? I salute his history but he really needs to sit down somewhere.
As a person who researches candidates, instead of relying on biased endorsements, I found yours to be incredibly off. Are we trying to stay stuck with do nothing politicians locally, in NC, and Washington? Was Biden not enough for us to understand that sometimes Papaw needs to step aside and let competent leadership step in?
Billy Queen in almost 80 years old! He is too old to be running anything except a commercial for Geritol! He says he worked undercover for two years with the Monguls motorcycle gang. Can you imagine being a member of that ruthless gang and not being an active participant in any killings, rapes, drug dealings to kids, and much more! Billy will wants you to overlook those very serious crimes he engaged in. How can this old pathetic criminal become our Sheriff!!
He is not almost 80, do your research before you make accusations.
How about you just tell us how old he is? I cannot find it on his website.
Not almost 80 and obviously you know nothing about undercover work. In his role he under no circumstances could he ever commit any crime if he did he was just as libel to be changed with a crime and any crime he was investigating would be dismissed. Do your research
I read the endorsement given to Phil Byrd. It seems like Hammer is struggling trying to find anything good to say about Byrd, so he just settles for the same old tired line; “he worked at the Sheriff’s Office for 30 years”. Byrd seems to be the word, that everyone has heard, is the nerd, who wants to purge, the black and brown surge, at the Sheriff’s Office.
Any of the Sheriff candidates would be better than the FELON we now have for sheriff.
I know Ed Melvin personally , and can vouch for his character and work ethic , Ed does not need this job as he operates a very successful business , he is running because he wants to right some of the wrongs of the current administration and give back to the people of Guilford County . The Sheriffs department will have a budget of almost seventy million dollars which will require the new Sheriff to not only have law enforcement experience but strong managerial experience as well .Review the candidates , Ed is the only one that has both .
Glad to see that BJ Barnes would endorse the winner and assist any way possible. He ran it for 24 years so he knows what needs to be fixed that Rogers destroyed.
Lots of good comments from everyone. Bottom line is that everyone of us better get ready to go all out for the Republican nominee or else we’ll be living with Danny! I’d rather not.
Cannot agree with your choice for Senate. It concerns me a lot that Ted’s Budd is drawing so much money from Pacs in DC and NY. Why would we want to allow them to select NC’s candidate. Budd is so polarizing he will not be able to win in November. Mark Walker has a much stronger record. Budd and McCrory’s negative attack ads tell me all I need to know.. Byrd for Sheriff. Arnold for CC. No to Branson because of his refusal to allow smaller towns their share of sales tax distribution. Same old tax and spend.
Arnold for CC? the guy should be in JAIL!
Every one of these people, if elected, EVERY ONE, will be required to take an Oath to support the Constitution of the United States (for federal positions) or an Oath to support the Constitution of the United States AND the N.C. Constitution for everyone elected to an office in our State.
Where does an understanding of the Constitution(s) and what it says about the role of each elected officer come into play with your endorsement decision?
Does the Constitution matter at all?
Constitution > Candidate
Well how old is Billy Queen if he’s not almost 80 years old?! I noticed you failed to say his age! Billy Queen fought in the Vietnam war! You don’t have to do your research, just do a little math! HES TOO OLD! HE’S JUST TOO OLD!! QUEEN needs to go somewhere and sit down in his rocking chair.
Further, do any of you honestly believe the Queen could be undercover for two years with a ruthless motorcycle gang and just NOT participate in any killings, heavy drug use and drug dealings to minors, etc? Maybe the gang just accepted this “choir boy” into their ranks and didn’t question it. Lol. Voters are not stupid.
He is several years younger than your President, that is leading this Country. Evidently you went to Guilford County Schools and Math was a subject you missed. Listen to his story. He volunteered for the Army after graduation from High School. I thank him for his service. Again, do your research before slandering someone.
Skeet said it well. Lots of good comments from everyone. Bottom line is that everyone of us better get ready to go all out for the Republican nominee or else we’ll be living with Danny! I’d rather not.
There are certainly a number of good folks running for the Office of Sheriff here in Guilford County. Letters from citizen/supporters have appeared, in prior publications of this newspaper, touting their candidates record of accomplishments in all sorts of law enforcement arenas from city police to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.
For those who don’t know, the office of Sheriff encompasses more than just law enforcement duties. By way of example, the Sheriff in each county is responsible for keeping the Courthouse safe and here in Guilford we have two, Greensboro and High Point. Sheriff’s deputies, bailiffs, are in every courtroom keeping order, opening and closing court. Also, the Sheriff in each county is responsible for serving civil process issued by the Court, such as civil summons, orders for arrest, subpoenas, writs of possession and the list goes on. The Sheriff and his deputies are the hand maidens of our court system.
Additionally, the Sheriff in each county, is responsible for management of the jail and here in Guilford County we have two jails. The Sheriff, in many respects is running a hotel, where the guests’ needs are attended to, but they are not free to leave. Health care, dietary needs, clothing, exercise, are a few of the areas concerning the many aspects of jail management.
The Office of Sheriff is the highest law enforcement Officer in his or her county, duly elected by the citizens of the County. Now having said all that … ask yourself … is a retired city cop best qualified to be in charge of all these areas? How about a retired ATF agent? May be a Highway Patrolman? Out of all the candidates, of which I am aware, only one rises to the level of having experience in all these areas. He has been in law enforcement for 50 years. He was the Chief Deputy, or Colonel in the prior administration, the number two guy in command, second only to the Sheriff. Folks, I am speaking of Randy Powers.
Candidate Randy Powers is the one and only candidate on the ballot who can walk into the Office on day one and operate the Office without any issues. I have known Randy well over 35 years. I am a retired Sheriff’s Office attorney and can only pay Randy Powers high accolades. He’s got my support and I hope you’ll support him too.
Lonnie G. Albright
Mr. Albright,
Were you there when Randy left his gun in a restroom at a Restaurant several counties away? Were you there when he left his car at an event and walked back with other participants to the Sheriff’s office and a couple hours later didn’t know where his car was? Did you know he filed for Bankruptcy? Do you want someone managing over a $70 million dollar budget when he can’t manage his own. I look forward to seeing your answers.
Concerned County resident.
I was in the audience at a Sheriff’s forum hosted by the Patriots. When each candidate was asked how would they deal with the immigration issue. Billy Queen’s response was that he would chase the plane down on the tarmac, and arrest the pilot. Billy Queen does not sound like a sane individual. Please do not vote for this guy or we will have another Sheriff Gerald Hege on our hands.
Everyone needs to take a look at the Sheriff’s Debate video on May 5th. It’s posted on J.t. Tonkins Facebook page. Phil Byrd is saying that when he’s Sheriff, he will go into these black and brown communities and look for reasons to stop drivers! He even mentioned broken tail lights as a reason to pull them over! Billy Queen suggestions to combat crime were not well received by the audience as well! The basically told him to be quiet.
If either of these two guys win the primary, Danny Rogers will be extremely elated!
Big miss on Tillman choice here. He FAILED our district as school board rep and doesn’t have what it takes to stand up to the leftist on the BOE. He certainly won’t be able to
Tangle with Skip. McClellan is much better choice here.