Donnie Harrison | |
---|---|
Sheriff of Wake County, North Carolina | |
In office 2002–2018 | |
Preceded by | John Baker |
Succeeded by | Gerald Mauroka Baker |
Personal details | |
Born | Bear Grass,North Carolina | March 1,1946
Political party | Republican |
Residence | Garner,North Carolina |
Donnie Harrison is an American retired law enforcement officer who served as the Sheriff of Wake County,North Carolina from 2002 to 2018. Prior to taking the position,he was for 26 years a law enforcement officer in Wake County with the North Carolina Highway Patrol. From 1988 to 1992,he was also the Chief of Security for Lieutenant Governor James Carson Gardner. [1] [2]
Harrison's first campaign for Wake County sheriff in 1998 against long-time incumbent John Baker was unsuccessful. Baker,nicknamed "Big John," was an iconic Raleigh political figure and former defensive lineman in the NFL. Baker was first elected sheriff in 1978,becoming the first Black sheriff in North Carolina since the Reconstruction era. Harrison sought a rematch in 2002 and won.
The two men faced off again for a third time in 2006 which resulted in Harrison winning convincingly. Harrison was the first certified law enforcement officer to be elected Sheriff in Wake County.
In 2008,Harrison helped dedicate the Wake County Public Safety Center in honor of Baker who had died in 2007. [3]
In 2018,Harrison ran for reelection for a fifth time but was defeated by Gerald Mauroka Baker during the 2018 midterm elections. [4]
In 2022 Harrison sought the Republican nomination to run again for the office of sheriff. He won the May 17 Republican primary,defeating two other candidates. [5]
Harrison is a self-described conservative Republican. He has weighed in on multiple elections during his tenure as Sheriff,including an endorsement of Pat McCrory's 2008 gubernatorial campaign,and Senator Richard Burr in 2010. In November 2011,Harrison publicly endorsed Wake County Commissioner Tony Gurley for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina,and former U.S. Attorney George Holding for United States Congress. [6] In his 2010 re-election campaign Harrison won the endorsement of the Muslim American Public Affairs Council.
Donnie Harrison grew up in Bear Grass,North Carolina and currently lives in Garner,NC. He is a member of Holland United Methodist church. He has two daughters,one granddaughter and one grandson. Harrison's wife,Gail,died of lung cancer August 5,2001,10 days before the couple's 36th wedding anniversary. [7]
James Walker Crawford Jr. is a former member of the North Carolina General Assembly. A Democrat,he represented the state's thirty-second House district,including constituents in Granville and Vance counties. A retail developer from Oxford,North Carolina,Crawford served fourteen terms in the state House of Representatives. In his last term he served as one of the chairmen of the House Appropriations committee.
Walter H. Dalton is an American attorney and politician who served as the 33rd Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party,he served six terms in the state senate before his election to the office of lieutenant governor in 2008.
Patrick Lloyd McCrory is an American businessman,politician and radio host who served as the 74th governor of North Carolina from 2013 to 2017. A member of the Republican Party,he previously served as the 53rd Mayor of Charlotte from 1995 to 2009. McCrory also served on the U.S. Homeland Security Advisory Council from 2002 to 2006 under President George W. Bush.
John Haywood Baker Jr.,nicknamed "Big John",was an American athlete and law enforcement officer. He played as defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) and was a member of four teams from 1958 to 1968. He served as sheriff of Wake County,North Carolina from 1978 to 2002,becoming the first African-American sheriff in North Carolina since the Reconstruction era.
The 2008 North Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 4,2008,coinciding with the presidential,U.S. Senate,U.S. House elections,Council of State and statewide judicial elections. Democrat Bev Perdue won the election. With a margin of 3.39%,this election was the closest race of the 2008 gubernatorial election cycle.
James Carson Gardner is an American businessman and politician who served as a U.S. Representative (1967–1969) and as the 30th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina (1989–1993).
The 2012 North Carolina gubernatorial election took place on November 6,2012,concurrently with the 2012 United States presidential election,U.S. House election,statewide judicial election,Council of State election and various local elections.
The 2012 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 6,2012,concurrently with the other elections to the Council of State and the gubernatorial election. Primary elections were held May 8. The offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected independently. The incumbent,Lt. Gov. Walter H. Dalton,announced on Jan. 26,2012 that he would run for Governor.
Tony Gurley is an American businessman and political figure from North Carolina,currently serving as chief operating officer for the Office of State Budget and Management. He served on the Wake County Board of Commissioners from his election in 2002 until he resigned in 2014 to take the state position. Gurley served as vice-chairman of the board of commissioners in 2005 and as chairman in 2006–2007,and 2010.
The North Carolina Council of State elections of 2012 were held November 6,2012 to select the nine officers of the North Carolina Council of State. This election coincided with the U.S. presidential election,U.S. House elections,the gubernatorial election and the statewide judicial elections. Primary elections were held on May 8,2012;for races in which no candidate received 40 percent of the vote in the primary,runoff elections were held on July 17.
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One justice of the seven-member North Carolina Supreme Court and five judges of the 15-member North Carolina Court of Appeals were elected by North Carolina voters on November 8,2016,concurrently with other state elections. Terms for seats on each court are eight years.
The North Carolina Council of State elections of 2016 were held on November 8,2016 to select the ten officers of the North Carolina Council of State. This elections coincided with the presidential election,elections to the House of Representatives,elections to the Senate and state elections to the General Assembly and judiciary. Primary elections were held March 15.
The 2020 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election took place on November 3,2020,to elect the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina,concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election,as well as elections to the United States Senate and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Primary elections were held on March 3,2020.
John B. Adcock is Republican who served in the North Carolina General Assembly representing House District 37 in Wake County. He was appointed in September 2018 and was defeated in the subsequent election by Democrat Sydney Batch.
Gerald Mauroka Baker was an American law enforcement officer who served as Sheriff of Wake County,North Carolina from December 2018 until December 2022 at the end of term.
The 2018 election in North Carolina's 9th congressional district was held on November 6,2018,to elect a member for North Carolina's 9th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives.
The 2022 United States Senate election in North Carolina was held on November 8,2022 to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of North Carolina. Primary elections were scheduled for March 8,2022,but were delayed by the North Carolina Supreme Court and rescheduled for May 17.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) is an agency of the North Carolina state government charged with the administration of the elections process,as well as campaign finance,and lobbying disclosure and compliance. The State Board of Elections works in conjunction with the state's 100 County Boards of Elections.
The North Carolina Council of State elections of 2020 were held on November 3,2020,to select the ten officers of the North Carolina Council of State. These elections coincided with the presidential election,elections to the House of Representatives,elections to the Senate and elections to the North Carolina General Assembly and top state courts. Primary elections were held on March 3,2020,for offices for which more than one candidate filed per party.