Edwards announces 2006 bid for sheriff
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on July 22, 2005 1:45 PM
Goldsboro police Sgt. Ken Edwards announced today he will run as a Democrat in 2006 for Wayne County sheriff.
Edwards, 51, says he will retire Aug. 3 after 30 years with the Police Department. He is the divorced father of two children and also operates a firing range.
The candidate said that although the incumbent three-term Sheriff Carey Winders, a Republican, has had some successes, primarily in his first term, "I feel it is time for a change in the leadership."
He said his accomplishments in law enforcement qualify him to be "the leader for a change," his campaign theme.
A few of the changes Edwards said he would make include:
* A system of fairness and impartiality in promotions and treatment of employees, including the jail staff.
* An office kept open to 1 a.m. on weeknight and on weekend days.
"It is not fair to the citizens to be required to wait for a deputy to be called in from the field to wait on them when the Sheriff's Department closes," Edwards said.
* A program that will promote and instill respect and responsibility in youths as a method of curtailing juvenile violence.
Edwards said the program would include department members, community leaders and the public who were willing to try to curtail juvenile violence. He said he would have a very pro-active department.
* Monthly community meetings to get to know the citizens.
"I believe the only way to truly know what the citizens need and desire is to have personal contact on a regular basis with them," he said.
* Supervisors thoroughly trained in leadership with a program to develop their law-enforcement skills.
Edwards said he will implement a continuous training program with the help of Wayne Community College.
* A strong effort to identify and eradicate high-crime areas, including drug, liquor and prostitution houses.
"Quite often, just one house ruins an entire neighborhood and makes living there miserable," he said. "Everyone is entitled to live their life in peace and security."
* A close relationship with other law-enforcement agencies in the county.
Edwards said the relationship among departments has deteriorated since he joined the police in 1975. He said he wants to bring back a good relationship.
* The removal of politics from the Sheriff's Office.
If elected, Edwards said his people will not be asked to openly support a re-election bid.
"It's always bothered me that every four years a deputy worries about whether he or she will still have a job after an election for sheriff." he said. "...All I will ever ask of my personnel is that they just do their job to the best of their ability, with integrity and fairness as their guide."
"I respect Sheriff Carey Winders very much, and I look forward to an honest, factual, informative and clean campaign," Edwards said.