Sheriff responds to campaign attack

June 28--Incumbent Sheriff Calvin Woodard said there's a lot about politics he wishes weren't true.

"I really wish candidates didn't have to raise money to run for office," Woodard said Friday afternoon. "I like meeting and talking with the people of Wilson County. But I think campaigns should be based on the candidate's platform. Unfortunately, there is the raising money portion of this."

Woodard doesn't believe the person with the biggest war chest is automatically victorious.

Woodard, a Democrat, faces Republican Joey Gardner in the November election.

"I think people want to know your work record, your history," Woodard said. "I think the people of Wilson County believe in this office and believe in me and know I am dedicated to getting the job done."

Woodard said he hates negative campaigning.

"I welcome Mr. Gardner to the platform and I just wish he would be positive and speak about the issues instead of the negative campaigning he has been displaying," Woodard said. "All of it appears to be directed toward me than what the community is asking of him.

What are you going to do as sheriff? What are you going to do to make it better? To me what he is doing is being more of a politician than a law enforcement officer."

SALARY / ALLOWANCES

Speaking in response to Gardner's campaign event on Thursday night,

Woodard said he never pledged to give back a portion of his salary and he challenges Gardner to prove that allegation.

"I didn't even know what my salary would be. I ran to serve Wilson

County," Woodard said. "When I learned about it I went to the county manager at that time and asked if I did take a lower salary would the deputies be able to have that money."

Woodard said he was told that money would go to the county's general fund.

Woodard said Gardner should do better research before he makes allegations.

One-third of the car allowance Gardner referenced goes to taxes as well as the clothing allowance, Woodard said.

"My vehicle is not new -- but it is clean," Woodard said. "I pay for all repairs, insurance, gas, oil changes, tires and anything that happens to the car because it is mine."

Woodard said Gardner's plans to use a county car isn't going to reap a bunch of savings.

"When you drive a county car then the citizens pay the taxes, upkeep, insurance and everything on that car," Woodard said. "If I get into a wreck in the car I drive, it is my insurance and my own deductible that is paid out of my pocket, not the citizens of Wilson County. If I drive a county car, then the county will pay."

Woodard contends with Gardner's retirement from a state job plus a sheriff's salary, it is possible his salary would be as high as the Wilson County sheriff's salary today.

ASSET FORFEITURE MONEY

Woodard said when he walked in the door of the sheriff's office, the asset forfeiture money was depleted.

"At the beginning of my tenure, I had to begin building that money back up again," Woodard said.

He said when drug money comes in there are a lot of people who rightfully get a portion.

"The school gets a portion, the feds get a portion, we get some, too," Woodard said.

Woodard said it is misleading to say that the officer who works out of the county would have been able to give all of the money to Wilson County.

He said the money is dispersed between all of the counties that person worked in.

DRUG BUSTS

Woodard contends Gardner is not in touch with what is happening in law enforcement.

"He said in a previous article that he isn't an expert on drugs," Woodard said. "Well, I have worked drug cases. I've charged people on drug charges. I've charged people with misdemeanor drugs charges and felony drug charges. I've worked it."

Woodard said every drug investigation is a major drug investigation. He said when there are drugs, guns, sometimes gang involvement, they all have to be worked.

"I can't look at some drug dealers and say I'm not going to bother them because they are only selling one kilo -- I only want the ones selling two kilos and greater," Woodard said.

He also said he was told by the drug task force people from Raleigh that although one of his deputies would be on that task force, they would not be able to work drug cases full time in Wilson.

"The drug problem was in Wilson and Wilson hired me to work on the problems in this county," Woodard said.

ASKING FOR RAISES

Woodard said he asked for raises for his employees each budget year.

"Mr. Gardner, once again, doesn't have his facts straight," Woodard said. "The budget calendar did not demand that we present anything to the county Jan. 1. That is a holiday for the county. The deadline was April 7."

Woodard said they didn't get budget preparation documents until March 3.

Woodard said he hand wrote the dollar amounts in red to bring attention to the county commissioners to what he was asking for.

Woodard said Gardner is talking about coming in saving the county close to $70,000. Woodard said he has saved the county hundreds of thousands of dollars during his tenure.

Gardner kicked off his campaign with a fundraising event Thursday night. Woodard is holding his own fundraiser today at Applebee's from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

janet@wilsontimes.com -- 265-7847

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