Who Is Running for Sheriff in Wake County?

Author Donald Gianassi

Posted Jan 24, 2023

Reads 26

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The sheriff of any county is typically charged with a great responsibility: providing the citizens of that county with safety, security and peace of mind. For Wake County in North Carolina, this election year brings forth a new roster of candidates vying for the same position.

This year, for Wake County Sheriff, there are two confirmed candidates: incumbent Sheriff Gerald Baker and his primary challenger John Bryan. With over 20 years of law enforcement experience in Wake County, Sheriff Baker seeks another term in office. His policies focus heavily on implementing programs to enhance community building among residents. On the other hand, John Bryan—a retired Army Captain and businessman—has pledged to back numerous crime-fighting initiatives if elected. He maintains a strong stance on community outreach and providing resources for youth development.

Both candidates are experienced public servants with unique backgrounds. Incumbent Sheriff Baker has spent over two decades in law enforcement while relying on his areas of expertise at managerial level positions to be effective as sheriff; his voter base is made up mostly of rural voters while also collecting support with endorsements from various local officials and policemen associations across the state. Challenger John Bryan has years of experience commanding large troops of soldiers coupled with managerial-level finance experience leading non-profit organizations in private sector roles; he has been backed by various prolific Democrats across the state and hopes to tap into Wake Co.'s large urban population making up their counties sprawling suburbs.

With less than three months left until Election Day, both Sheriff Baker and John Bryan will continue to campaign heavily as they seek to win over voters from around the county to support their candidacy for Wake County Sheriff in North Carolina —a decision that will undoubtedly be echoed across the state come November!

What are the names of the candidates for sheriff in Wake County?

Wake County is gearing up for a big election this November, as there is a wide array of candidates vying for the position of sheriff. The current sheriff, Donnie Harrison, is retiring, meaning the county is in need of new leadership. Currently, there are three candidates that are looking to take on the role and they are Bob Aherron, Gerald Baker and Charles Moss.

Bob Aherron is a longtime Wake County resident and former police chief in Collegeville. He recently retired from a successful run as Chief of Police where he implemented many new initiatives and crime prevention measures. Aherron has been campaigning hard since entering the race for Sheriff and has been adamant about his plans to modernize the department

Gerald Baker has served proudly as a deputy since 2004, being promoted to sergeant in 2014 and then again to lieutenant in 2017 due to his dedication to his job and unwavering commitment towards protecting citizens of Wake County. Baker believes in partnering with other agencies around the area in order to better protect citizens from crime

Finally we have Charles Moss who comes with extensive experience serving on numerous law enforcement boards both locally, statewide and at times federally. Moss most recently served as commander of Wake County’s Police Department before going into private practice doing security consulting work both locally and nationally. He’s ran on a platform of increasing public safety while also striving towards building relationships between police officers/deputies and residents of Wake County

These three candidates come from diverse backgrounds but all share the same goal of fighting to make Wake County safer for its citizens. The election will be an important one as it could further shape the future of growth within the county so it’s important you get out there and have your voice heard by casting your vote for one these noble aspirants for Sheriff in Wake County!

What are the qualifications of the candidates running for sheriff in Wake County?

The 2020 election for Wake County Sheriff is a historic one, with five qualified and committed candidates vying for the position. The candidates, who propose progressive and necessary reform, are incumbent Sheriff Gerald Baker, attorney Chris Bahguyka, retired police chief and security director Allie Maldonado-McMillan, retired major financial investigator John Hoke, and veteran fundraiser Mark Crotty.

Sheriff Gerald Baker is currently the longest-serving sheriff in Wake County's history and has been in law enforcement for 41 years. As sheriff, he has implemented data-driven law enforcement strategies that have reduced crime across all areas of Wake County. He is also an accomplished public servant who emphasizes collaboration between the police and community when combatting crime.

Attorney Chris Bahguyka holds a Juris Doctor degree from UCSD School of Law and 30 years of experience as a deputy district attorney. For the last 15 years he has volunteered his criminal justice expertise to non-profits dealing with crime prevention initiatives in at-risk communities in Wake County. In addition to his legal background, Bahguyka is known to be an expert leader in public safety policy reform.

Retired Police Chief Allie Maldonado-McMillan holds over two decades of law enforcement experience in North Carolina. During her career she advanced through many ranks up to Director of Security at Durham Public Schools where she was responsible for keeping 72 schools safe on a daily basis. Additionally, Maldonado-McMillan has earned multiple accolades as a safety expert over her career and is passionate about combating crime while improving citizen engagement among minority communities in Wake County.

Retired Major John Hoke brings nearly 20 years of investigative experience from the Wake County Sheriff’s Office where he led extensive investigations into numerous complex criminal cases throughout southern North Carolina. He is highly respected within the local law enforcement community for spearheading innovative initiatives for investigating financial crimes including establishing specialized financial crimes units throughout Wake County.

Mark Crotty brings two decades of fundraising expertise combined with leadership experience within multiple non-profit organizations across North Carolina focused on community outreach projects related to safety and security initiatives within at-risk areas. His background includes managerial roles working with philanthropic organizations where he established networks resulting in private investment opportunities dedicated to reducing crime while promoting education offerings among students from underserved communities in Wake County.

No matter which candidate you choose to support in this special election cycle you can be assured that each one offers distinct qualifications that make them well suited for serving as Wake County’s next Sheriff much needed reforms with over 30 combined years of service dedicated to protecting citizens living within our local communities!

What process do voters in Wake County follow to vote for sheriff?

It’s important for citizens of Wake County to stay informed about their local voting processes to make their voices heard and their votes count. When it comes to electing a Sheriff, it’s no different and the process can be surprisingly complicated. Here’re all the details citizens should know when it comes to voting for a Wake County Sheriff.

The first question is how contenders become official candidates. In Wake County, any candidate who wishes to become sheriff must receive nomination petitions from local county citizens with valid signatures in order to appear on the ballot on Election Day. The candidate will take these signatures along with a filing fee of $375 to the Wake County Board of Elections office no later than late February or early March (depending on primary and general election dates).

When Election Day rolls around, registered voters go to designated polling areas in their precinct that are found online via The State Board of Elections website. During primary elections, voters will have only one party choice for sheriff — either Democrat or Republican. The county holds a general election during even-numbered years between the two major party candidates (if applicable) and any additional candidates running for sheriff as independents or members of other minor parties. Voters then cast their vote following election procedures determined by their state or local government such as using touchscreens or some other method.

Finally, once all votes have been counted, the candidate with the highest percentage wins – unless multiple candidates must be reviewed again within 90 days in which case a second election will be held if none of them earned 50% or more of votes cast according to North Carolina General Statutes 163-294.

Staying informed is key when it comes to participating in elections at any level - even down to your local Sheriff in Wake County! Following this simple guide should help steer you safely through the intimidating process involved for making your voice heard come Election Day!

What endorsements have the candidates running for sheriff in Wake County received?

The upcoming election for Wake County Sheriff has sparked an extensive conversation among citizens of the county. Voters are trying to decide which of the two candidates is the most qualified and deserving of their vote. One of the most useful indicators when making this decision is which endorsements each candidate has received.

Sharon Jones, one of the current contenders for Sheriff, has had her name highlighted among several local groups and associations. For instance, she’s received endorsements from the Wake County Democratic Party, Zebulon Town Commission, and numerous PACs (Political Action Committees) such as Free People NC and Show Up America. Beyond that, many political leaders have voiced their support for Ms. Jones including U.S Congressional Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Governor Roy Cooper, Senator Jay Chaudhuri, North Carolina State Treasurer UNC student leader Joshuaus Wynn III, juror Jon Williams and dozens of other members from the local community.

Meanwhile, her rival candidate Anah Tzekov has gathered a considerable amount of notable endorsements as well. These include Congressmen Ted Budd and George Holding from North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District; State Representative John Szoka as well as multiple members from his campaign committee; Special Olympian Robert Sparks; local business owner Chris Smith; and numerous members from different organizations like Moms Demand Action and the Wake County Republican Party.

It’s clear that both candidates have a significant amount of supporters in their respective camps lending them words of endorsement this hotly contested election race in Wake County. The question remains – which candidate has earned the support of enough voting citizens to turn out with a decisive win on election day? That will be revealed as we all wait to find out who emerges victorious in this battle to serve as Wake County's next sheriff!

What are the platforms of the candidates running for sheriff in Wake County?

The race for Sheriff of Wake County is heating up, and each of the candidates has an impressive pool of platforms from which to run. It’s important for citizens to understand the goals, beliefs and initiatives put forth by each individual in order to make an informed decision at the ballot box. Let’s take a look at what's on offer from the five contenders vying for Sheriff of Wake County.

The first candidate, Richard Barger Jr., is running on a platform focused on public safety, community development and fiscal responsibility. Barger wants to increase the number of training and development programs throughout Wake County while also advocating for greater fiscal responsibility in identifying budgetary efficiencies that benefit citizens located within county lines.

John Frank sees community engagement as paramount in his bid for sheriff. He plans on running a full service office for people needing help with civil issues, creating successful partnerships with local agencies, and actively engaging with emerging technology as an outreach tool.

Bud Simpson is centered around sound tactics when forming policy objectives about crime prevention and safety initiatives. His platform involves building bridges within the community to ensure these initiatives are successful and beneficial to all involved so that there is greater accountability at all levels regarding crime prevention efforts throughout the county.

Pamela Haller plans on making transparency her number one priority if elected sheriff by seeking out ways to improve community voices within agendas set forth by law enforcement agencies while simultaneously improving trust between citizens and officials in Wake County. She’ll also look into identifying opportunities pertaining to domestic violence counseling as well as parental drug addiction support groups located within the county offering guidance pertaining those struggling with substance abuse problems via safe channels.

The final candidate Tom Black insists that fiscal responsibility be central in any decisions made pertaining law enforcement agencies throughout Wake County while also placing attention onto improving public safety measures when it comes to transportation access across county lines as well as bike safety awareness initiatives available within local schools throughout adjacent neighborhoods surrounding Wake County itself.

In sum, each of these five prospective sheriffs have made their intentions clear ahead of election day – now it’s up to you decide which platform speaks most deeply regarding future goals set forth in regards preserving public safety no matter where you live in Wake County.

Donald Gianassi

Donald Gianassi

Writer at CGAA

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Donald Gianassi is a renowned author and journalist based in San Francisco. He has been writing articles for several years, covering a wide range of topics from politics to health to lifestyle. Known for his engaging writing style and insightful commentary, he has earned the respect of both his peers and readers alike.

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