Brunswick County Sheriff candidates

John W. Ingram V

Party | Republican

Age | 41

Occupation | Sheriff of Brunswick County

Education | graduate of West Brunswick High School; initial law enforcement training at Southeastern Community College; Basic Law Enforcement Training at Brunswick Community College; additional law enforcement training through the N.C. Justice Academy, Public Agency Training Council, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, National Tactical Officers Association, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Department of Justice and annual mandated in-service; graduate of the National Sheriff's Institute.

Political experience | Sheriff of Brunswick County since May of 2008

Civic involvement | South Brunswick Island Rotarian; North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce; Pythagoras Lodge 249, Southport; South Brunswick Islands Shrine Club; Smart Start board member; N.C. Sheriff's Association and National Sheriff's Association.

Military | none

E-mail/website | sheriffingram.com

Elizabeth "Rendy" Lewis

Party | Democrat

Age | 61

Occupation | Retired after 33 years in law enforcement

Education | graduate, Bolivia High School; magistrate school, N.C. Institute of Government; N.C. Justice Academy; Basic Law Enforcement, Cape Fear Community College; telecommunication certification, Brunswick Community College.

Political experience | 18 years, appointed judicial official; member, Brunswick Democratic Women's Association

Civic Involvement | member, Antioch Baptist Church, Bolivia

Military | none

E-mail/website | rendy@atmc.net; www.rendylewis.com

Q. | Forty years of the war on drugs hasn't worked. What would?

Ingram | The possession of illicit drugs is a crime in North Carolina. The people of our state have spoken on numerous occasions regarding this matter and the majority of people continue to support laws prohibiting the sale and possession of illicit drugs. There is no evidence to support that the legalization of "soft" drugs, as they are commonly referred to, would reduce crime or save tax dollars spent on enforcing drug laws. There is evidence to support that the use of marijuana is 50 times more harmful to the human body than a tobacco cigarette as well as causing an increased risk of a heart attack. Additionally, the use of psychedelic drugs has been shown to cause lasting brain damage among frequent users. The simple truth is that the abuse and illegal sale of illicit drugs and prescription medication will continue to be a plague on our society as long as people continue to rely on them as an escape from the problems and disappointments in their lives. I don't perceive it as a war, rather a commitment to upholding and supporting the laws of our state and federal government and a desire to make our communities a safer place for our children.

As a nation I believe that we have neglected an important aspect of dealing with the drug problem, we have not implemented programs designed to rehabilitate those people who have become addicted to the various drugs. We can help people manage their addictions and be a productive member of society by supporting programs such as Drug Treatment court, Mental Health court and other rehabilitation programs.

Lewis | I believe that a greater emphasis on tougher enforcement and a 365-day-a-year effort toward the war on drugs will affect the statistics and drug traffic in our county. There should be no favoritism towards traffickers or lenient sentences for the favored of the community. For too long the laws have not applied to all. I propose that there be one law, enhanced patrols in high traffic areas and a relentless push to eliminate drugs in our schools. Law enforcement need to officially charge all persons caught with drugs, regardless of the location or family connection. The majority of crime offenders are between 20-24 years of age. ... We need to re-direct them while they are still in high school before they reach our streets. More consistent enforcement of school drug abuse could strongly affect the crime in the early 20s.

Q. | Why would you be a better sheriff than your opponent?

Ingram | I am committed to serving the people of Brunswick County to the very best of my ability. I take great pride in being a member of the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office, working with some of the most dedicated and dependable people that I know. The programs we have implemented and the attitude that has been adopted are designed to engage our citizens working in partnership to be proactive and make our county as safe as possible. If elected, I will continue to lead by example and remain accessible to the people that I serve. The commitment and desire will continue to be that of professional public service, dedicated to deterring crime and bringing criminals to justice.

Lewis | I have almost twice the experience that my opponent has. My experience extends beyond the sheriff department into the areas of judicial appointment, where I demonstrated for many years that the law applied equally to all. As the first female road deputy in this county, I can assure you that my job duties were not tempered because of my being a female, nor were they tempered when I served as a N.C. Magistrate Judge. My well-rounded law enforcement career, extending 33 years, has prepared me well for the office of a sheriff.

I would restructure the office after an initial assessment to determine the most effective use of current personnel, departments, resources and schedules. The department will also begin the accreditation process to demonstrate and implement the most modern and generally accepted policing practices as documented through current research and practices, something lacking in the current department.