Former Wake Sheriff Donnie Harrison wants his job back. The field will be crowded.
Former four-term Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison received an endorsement from one of his Republican competitors Monday even before the race officially began.
Stephanie Hopkins, who was planning to run in the March primary, announced just before candidate filing started at noon that that she was suspending her campaign to support Harrison.
Hopkins said it became clear she needed to support Harrison to unseat Sheriff Gerald Baker, who defeated Harrison four years ago.
Harrison said he wants to emphasize law and order in Wake County.
“Folks, it is time for a new sheriff,” Harrison said at news conference. “It’s time we put law enforcement back in Wake County. “
Harrison criticized the response to protests in downtown Raleigh last year after the death of George Floyd, saying he would have handled things differently.
People have the right to protest, he said, but when they start breaking the law, law enforcement should make them leave or arrest them.
“We would have been ready,” he said. “We should have been ready.”
The filing period for the March 2022 primary runs through Dec. 17, and the field will be crowded.
At least six Democrats and four Republicans, which included Hopkins, had indicated they were running for sheriff.
“When you see 10 people running for sheriff, you know there is a problem,” Harrison said.
In September the Libertarian Party of Wake County held a forum that included Harrison and others. Baker, a Democrat, didn’t attend, but he has confirmed he is running.
At the Libertarian event, Hopkins announced that she was fired from one of her jobs as a nurse because she didn’t want to be forced to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I refuse to give into medical mandates,” she said.
Baker’s 2018 win
In the November 2018 election, Baker won 54% of the vote in a race with Harrison, taking some by surprise. Baker had raised about $15,000 compared to Harrison’s $200,000, The News & Observer reported.
Some attributed Baker’s win to Democrats showing up for the 2018 election.
Baker told The N&O that he has delivered on his promises to reorganize and restore integrity to the Sheriff’s Office.
Opponents are going to say whatever they need to say to undermine that success, Baker said.
“My focus will be to show that this administration is not only doing very good and very well in keeping this county safe, we have the numbers to show it,” he said. “They are going to be saying all kinds of things. I am more concerned about continuing to be able to do what I am elected to do. I hope and pray the work is going to be enough for the citizens of the county to re-elect me.”
Other Wake County sheriff candidates
Others who have indicated they are running include Democrats Roy Taylor, Willie Rowe, Tommy Mathews, Randolph Baity, and Joe Coley.
Other Republicans include Tivon Howard and David Blackwelder.
What does the Wake sheriff do?
The Wake County sheriff makes $193,649 annually. The Sheriff’s Office has a nearly $102 million budget with more than 900 employees. It oversees a variety of services including managing Wake detention facilities and the pistol permit process, serving warrants, policing certain areas within the county, and protecting the Wake County Justice Center and courthouse.
The primary will be held March 8, and the general election, Nov. 8.
Early voting for the primary begin Feb. 17 and runs through March 5.
This story was originally published December 6, 2021 at 8:53 AM with the headline "Former Wake Sheriff Donnie Harrison wants his job back. The field will be crowded.."
