Incumbent, challenger for sheriff have debate

HARRIS STRESSES DRUG FIGHT; CLARK EMPHASIZES COMMUNITY POLICING

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

LENOIR -- The bright yellow "Reelect Gary Clark" signs and the patriotic red, white and blue "Elect Terry Harris Sheriff" posters have dotted Caldwell County roads for months.

But with Election Day just three weeks away, the candidates for sheriff debated for the first time at a Monday night forum hosted by the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce.

Clark, the Republican incumbent sheriff returning to the polls for a shot at another four years, and Harris, the former Granite Falls police chief, faced off during the nine-question debate at the Broyhill Civic Center.

While both candidates agreed on the general characteristics necessary for a good sheriff - integrity, honesty and financial accountability - their opinions on drug crime and community policing differed.

Clark, who has touted his tough stance on drug dealers, argued that nearly 80 percent of all crime in the county can be attributed to illegal drug use, particularly methamphetamine use.

"Meth is slowly decreasing," he said. "(But) we need to continue to look at that problem in our county."

Harris, meanwhile, said focusing too intently on narcotics arrests doesn't always allow deputies enough time to respond to other crimes, such as larceny and breaking and entering.

"We cannot get caught up in just enforcing drug laws," he said.

Harris also emphasized the value of community policing, which encourages officers to live in the same community where they work, and said he would require all deputies to live within Caldwell County.

He said the policy would not only help lower crime rates but likely reduce turnover in the Sheriff's Office as well.

Although Clark did not disagree with the idea of community policing, he does not require deputies to live in the county and said finding qualified officers is his staffing priority.

"We need to look for the best people irregardless of where they're from," he said.

The debate lasted more than an hour, but many of the more than 150 county residents gathered at the forum said they knew beforehand which candidate will get their vote next month.

Lenoir resident Jerry "Whitey" McCall said it is Clark's emphasis on drug-related crime during his first term that he thinks has singled out the Republican as the strongest candidate.

"We don't want to back-up to where we were four years ago," McCall said. "We want to go forward."

Harris supporter David Seagle, also of Lenoir, said he thinks the Democrat's community policing plan gives him the extra edge.

"He's going to bring back employees that live in Caldwell County and keep the money here," he said.



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