Citizens' Comments - Joe Harper

Reaction to the results of any election always elicits various and sometimes passionate responses and opinions as to the candidates who were voted in or out of office, sometimes from the candidates themselves. I would like however, to offer an average citizens opinion to the recent election for Wilson County sheriff.

Current Sheriff Wayne Gay was soundly defeated by challenger Calvin Woodard, and even before the vote was made official, Sheriff Gay was already displaying an attitude which seems contradictory to the integrity of the office he currently holds. Quoting from the Wilson Times, Sheriff Gay said his opponent did "a masterful job getting African-Americans out to vote." It is interesting, considering the amount of time he has held his office, Sheriff Gay wasn't nearly as masterful getting all citizens out to vote. If Sheriff Gay had the support he wants everyone to believe, he would probably have soundly defeated his opponent. Sheriff Gay stated the election turned out to be a race issue, not an issue race, and his comments in the Wilson Times and on WRAL support his view of that. 

People should remember that in 1982 when Sheriff Gay was elected, he did not have the experience he has now, and voters took a chance on him then, just as they have today with Calvin Woodard. Also remember that Woodard used to work for the Wilson County Sheriff's Department prior to becoming a special agent with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and it would be hard to believe his former boss, who is now discrediting him as having inadequate experience to do the job, would not have given him a favorable recommendation for that position.

People probably thought the same of Sheriff Gay back when he first ran for office as some may think of Calvin Woodard today, however Sheriff Gay has served the people of Wilson County admirably until now, with what unfortunately seems to be a rather unprofessional if not threatening response to being voted out of office.

The people of Wilson County have spoken, and Sheriff Gay should accept their decision, look back on a very successful career, and work to make the transition to the new sheriff as smooth, and with as little elaboration as possible. Should Calvin Woodard not serve the people of Wilson County the next four years, they will have their chance to speak again.

Joe Harper