NC Sheriff's Association backs Senate Bill 351, no felon as sheriff

Urgency of getting bill to voters

By: Arthur Mondale | WNCT-On Your Side
Published: March 20, 2010

Eastern NC
Law officers in our state, say convicted felon's should not be allowed to run for sheriff.
The North Carolina Sheriffs Association came out in favor of Senate Bill 351.
The bill amends the state constitution so that no one convicted of a felony would be eligible to become sheriff.
9OYS explains what's behind the urgency of getting the bill to voters.
Edgecombe County sheriff James Knight who is also president of the NC Sheriff's Association says six convicted felon's are running for election this year in North Carolina.
In Washington County former sheriff Stanley James is running to get his old job back.
Even though he was removed from office in 2006 for embezzling money from his department.
He did 60 days in jail and two years probation.
The association points out---a person cannot be hired as a deputy with a felony record, why should they be allowed to head the department as sheriff?
In addition, they say sheriff's in smaller counties are often called to help in the field. And since felons can't have firearms raises public safety concerns.
It's not going to be easy to get the bill passed, because it would change the state constitution and that requires the public to vote.
“I think you need to police your own--because if you don't someone else will,” said Edgecombe County sheriff James Knight.
Co-sponsors of the bill say if the bills is passed, it won't affect the upcoming race because it wouldn't go to a public vote until next year.
The NC Sheriff's Association plans to meet with lawmakers in Raleigh next week.