Candidates for Wake sheriff meet Monday night to take questions on immigration policy, staffing, public safety

Two veterans of the Wake County Sheriff's Office vying to become the next sheriff meet Monday night at a forum sponsored by the nonpartisan N.C. Transit Workers Association Political Action Committee (PAC).

Democrat Willie Rowe, an Army and law enforcement veteran, won a second primary election to take on Republican Donnie Harrison, who was the Wake County sheriff from 2002 to 2018, in the Nov. 8 general election.

The pair will meet Monday at 7 p.m. at First Cosmopolitan Baptist Church, 1515 Crosslink Road in Raleigh, in an even open to the public. Their discussion will be moderated by N.C. Rep James Roberson (D-Wake).

On the Record: One-on-one with candidates for the Wake County sheriff's race

{
    "name": "follow",
    "attrs": [],
    "children": null
}

Organizers expect to ask the candidates about their stance on the 287(g) program, a partnership between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that allows local agencies to screen people for immigration status.

Cooperation with 287(g) was among the issues at stake when Harrison was voted out of office in 2018, but he has said if re-elected he would no longer enforce it.

“We know 287(g) was out of the window,” Harrison has said. “It's just not working.

Instead, he said he would prefer a universal background check where everyone arrested, no matter the age gender or background, would be checked for wants and warrants.

Rowe says 287(g) is not on his agenda and he won’t use it. “That program is not cost effective and not productive in any way."

He pointed to Congress, calling for "a comprehensive immigration reform so we are operating at the same page."

Issues of staffing and morale within the sheriff's office have also been the focus of both candidates, department staff and the public.

“Improving morale, improving working conditions, ensuring our staff as well as the general public that they are appreciated,” Rowe said. “That they are valued.”

"It's not about Willie [Rowe] and Donnie [Harrison]," Harrison said. "It's about the people of this county and the deputies that work the roads and the jailers that work the jail. We've got to make it better for them.

"Especially the citizens, they deserve better when it comes to law enforcement."