CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There's about to be a new sheriff in town.
Since 1982 Mecklenburg County has had only three sheriffs. This year, with Chipp Bailey retiring from office, either Democrat Irwin Carmichael or Republican Chris Hailey will become the fourth.
Hailey is a former North Carolina state trooper who also headed CPCC's continuing education training programs for law enforcement officers. Carmichael owns a string of martial arts schools and said his 28 years as an unpaid reserve officer with the Sheriff's office gives him an advantage.
"I've been able to work in the different areas. I've been able to work in arrest processing. I've been able to work in the courthouse," Carmichael said.
Carmichael has the endorsement of the current sheriff and said he wants to keep most of the programs of Chipp Bailey in place. His opponent, Hailey, has a different take.
"There's change that needs to be made here in Mecklenburg County," Hailey said. He's campaigning on a plan to create new satellite sheriff's offices with facilities for temporarily housing arrestees. Hailey said it will speed up arrest processing which ties up officers for too long.
"If it's gonna take anywhere from two to four to six hours to process an arrestee and to get back into your community, that's a problem," Hailey said.
Carmichael disagrees with Hailey's plan.
"His vision is going to decentralize the Sheriff's office. It's not the right time for that," Carmichael said.
Neither candidate has ever led an organization the size of the Sheriff's office -- with more than 1,000 employees and a $100 million budget. Both are trying to convince voters they can.
"For the last 28 years I've been accumulating the skills to hold this office," Carmichael said.
Asked if he can win as a Republican in a county dominated by Democratic voters, Hailey said, "Absolutely. We're going to win this race."
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- Gas almost under $3 nationwide: What to know
- Man dies after driving car into back of flatbed
- Couple says they were arrested while singing gospel
- CMPD offers tips for Halloween trick-or-treaters
- Police: Man posed as doctor on Craigslist to rape woman
- Cool temps in Charlotte, snow expected in the mountains
WSOC
