Local News - November 2002

Republicans win big in Tuesday vote

Pickens trounces Ledford

By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer

November 6, 2002 - It was cold outside, but inside Republican headquarters Tuesday night, things were getting hot.

Republicans came out in full force and swept all but one of the local races.

And while supporters who crammed into the crowded building on South Academy Street were excited, thrilled and jubilant, they weren’t surprised.

“We worked hard,” said Doris Lail, Lincoln County’s Republican Party chairwoman. “It’s a great feeling.”

It was especially good for Fred Hatley, who surprised many with his decisive defeat of interim clerk of court Teresa Peeler. Sheriff Barbara Pickens also claimed a decisive victory over Tommy Ledford.

Amidst the cries of happiness and the overwhelming sound of more than a hundred hands clapping, Republicans thanked their supporters and the voters, and made promises to represent the people of Lincoln County well.

“We’re a party of all the people,” Lail said.

Lail, obviously pleased with capturing almost every race, was hoping for a clean sweep.

“I’m sorry we didn’t take it all,” she said.

Democrat Elaine Harmon reclaimed the office of Register of Deeds that she has held for 12  years. This will be her fourth term in office.

Harmon defeated Republican Beth Saine, who is retiring from her position as vice-chairwoman of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.

Harmon beat Saine by 2,194 votes.

“I’m happy with the outcome of my race, but I’m disappointed with the outcome of some of the other races,” Harmon said.

Carrol Mitchem and James “Buddy” Funderburk grabbed the two open county commissioner seats.

Republican Hatley defeated Peeler by 12 percent of the votes.

“I think Fred Hatley has energized the young people in Lincoln County,” Lail said.

Rep. Joe Kiser, R-Vale was re-elected as the 97th district N.C. House representative, defeating Democrat Floyd Edwards and Libertarian Bryan Edwards.

Kiser rallied Republicans after the final votes were announced.

“The challenge is for us to represent the people of this county in whatever office we won in the best way we can,” Kiser said. “We have to serve everybody in this county and do a great job.”

Republican Elizabeth Dole beat out Democrat Erskine Bowles for a seat on the U.S. Senate.

Republican Cass Ballenger claimed 60 percent of the votes to keep his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ballenger defeated Democrat Ron Daugherty and Libertarian Christopher Hill.

And the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office won’t see a new face in charge for at least another four years.

Incumbent Sheriff Pickens, a Republican, defeated unaffiliated candidate Ledford night in a landslide victory.

When all the precincts weighed in and the votes were tallied, Pickens was unofficially declared the winner, by a 5,296 vote margin.

Pickens claimed 12,304 votes, 63.7 percent of the total. Ledford grabbed 7,008 votes, which was 39.3 percent of Lincoln County’s votes.

Surrounded by a crowd of people who packed the Republican Party headquarters on Academy Street, Pickens gratefully accepted the job, making this her third term in office.

“Everybody is to be congratulated for working so hard,” Pickens told the clapping and cheering crowd of supporters. “And we thank each and every one of you.”

Pickens won’t say for sure whether this will be her last time running for sheriff.

“Maybe not,” she said, between congratulatory hugs.

She’ll have to decide at the end of this term, she said.

Ledford arrived at Republican headquarters shortly after the final results were announced. He and Pickens shook hands, and he congratulated her.

“Tommy was quite a gentleman,” Pickens said. “He came by and shook hands and congratulated me, and that shows the type of person he is. I appreciate him doing that.”

She said their relationship will not change because of the race for sheriff.

“We’ve been friends in the past, and there’s no reason why we can’t continue to be friends,” Pickens said.

Ledford said he has no regrets in his decision to run for office.

“I gave the voters a choice, and they chose the incumbent,” Ledford said. “I had a lot of fun and met a lot of nice people.”

He urges everyone to support the sheriff’s office and other public safety agencies.

“They choose to put their lives on the line every day,” he said.

Pickens claimed victory in 26 of Lincoln’s 31 precincts. Ledford topped Pickens in North Brook I, Crouse, Heavners, Oak Grove and Love Memorial.

Pickens was first elected sheriff in 1994. She is North Carolina’s first female sheriff.

She has racked up a total 31 years in law enforcement and is happy to get to spend another four years doing the job she loves.

Pickens has several goals she would like the sheriff’s office to meet in the coming years, including a comprehensive salary study, improving the office’s relationship with the community and strengthening communications.

Pickens said she is very thankful to the people who worked on her campaign.

“You cannot get elected by yourself,” she said. “It takes a whole lot of people working for you and helping you, and those are the people that deserve all the credit.”

She is happy that Lincoln County residents voted to re-elect her.

“I’m really proud that the citizens of Lincoln County have enough faith in me to give me four more years,” Pickens said.

“That’s what really restores your soul — when you know the community supports you and feels like you’re the person to do the job. And that’s what really makes you feel good.”

Out of Lincoln County’s 37,763 registered voters, 20,832 showed up at the polls Tuesday. Elections workers said they had no problems during the day.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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