CHARLOTTE, NC — We’re down to the final days in the Mecklenburg County sheriff’s race.
Two-term sheriff Chipp Bailey chose not to run again, opening the door for Democrat Irwin Carmichael and Republican Chris Hailey. Both candidates are talking about their vision for the office.
Republican candidate Chris Hailey ran for sheriff in 2010. Hailey says he’s better organized this time, and ready to take the office in a new direction.
“The sheriff needs to be a leader in the community,” says Hailey. “A leader who can take the sheriff’s office more into the 21st century, and not just the status quo of where it is now.”
The 27-year public safety veteran has been a police officer and North Carolina state trooper. As sheriff he would push to decentralize the jail booking system, so agencies in northern and southern parts of Mecklenburg county can spend more time keeping citizens safe.
“By the time those guys arrest someone and take them downtown, you know, a minimum of two hours,” says Hailey. “But on a given night it can take four to six hours.”
Democrat Irwin Carmichael started as a volunteer with the sheriff’s office in 1986. 28 years later, he’s touting a continuation of the work done under current sheriff Chipp Bailey.
“Our agency, you’re looking at a $118 million budget,” says Carmichael. “And we run a very, very efficient agency. Everybody says we never hear anything about it. Well that’s a good thing, because we’re doing things right.”
Carmichael wants to continue programs that keep inmates from returning to jail, using education and job skills training to rehabilitate.
“We’re partnering with the business community,” says Carmichael. “When they’re released, they now have employment. They’re not coming back to our jails. So they’re not going to be in that revolving door.”
Both candidates do agree on at least one thing. The sheriff’s office needs to reach out to troubled youths in Mecklenburg county before it’s too late.
“We never have the chance to affect a child right now until ages 16 and 17,” says Carmichael. “We need to connect with them earlier.”
“We need more of a mentoring program for those kids,” says Hailey. “If we put more money into education at that level, that’s less money you’re going to have to put in the penal system in the long run.”
The candidates say they are seeing a strong turnout during early voting for what could be a close race.
WCCB Charlotte is your election headquarters. We will have live team coverage from the sheriff’s race, to the US senate race. Look for complete coverage WCCB News at Ten and online on election night Tuesday, November 4th.
