Former Wake Sheriff Baker Remains Active Despite Election Loss

Baker said he has a message to his supporters.

"Hold your vote. Don't give up your vote," he said.

The votes did not go Baker's way in November. Sheriff Donnie Harrison beat him in a close election. Harrison said he intended to make plenty of changes to the sheriff's office and Baker is watching. Baker said he has time to reflect on the last election.

"I don't have any second thoughts about that at all. I just say the citizens elected him and it's his responsibility to carry out those duties," he said.

These days, Baker's duties are pretty simple with a lot of yardwork and working with at-risk kids. He said there are some advantages to being a private citizen.

"Not having the responsibility. That's the best thing and being able to relax and go and come when you get ready," he said.

Baker said supporters are telling him to follow his own advice, "don't stop."

"That makes me feel good and the only thing I tell them is hold your vote because there is an old song that's sung in the church, 'I ain't no ways tired yet,'" he said.

At the time of Baker's election night loss, he was the longest-tenured active sheriff in North Carolina's 100 counties.