Edgar Shuler has dropped out of the Davidson County sheriff’s race, endorsing fellow Republican Terry Price over incumbent David Grice in the May primary.
Grice maintains that Price approached him about offering his support in exchange for what was described as “fringe benefits,” meaning employment in some form or fashion. The two candidates sparred at a public forum over cash seizures from drug dealers, the sheriff’s budget and law enforcement experience:
In opening statements, both men touted their qualifications to serve as sheriff. Grice noted that he was about to retire after teaching law enforcement classes for 30 years at Davidson County Community College when the opportunity to serve as sheriff arose following Hege’s resignation in 2004 after he pleaded guilty to two felony counts of obstruction of justice.
“We returned honesty to the sheriff’s office,” Grice said. “We brought integrity back to the sheriff’s office.”
Price said he had more than 32 years of “actual law enforcement experience” before he retired as a captain with the N.C. Highway Patrol. He said he supervised more than 300 Highway Patrol officers in 10 counties at the time of his retirement.
Former Sheriff Gerald Hege did not attend the candidates’ forum.
