Sheriff Candidate Donald Dixon Takes Issue Times Two | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: My apologies to Candidate Dixon, and all candidates since I missed this 2nd retort from the candidate a week or so back. Better late than never, I reckon. I did, however, catch this 1st retort in a rather timely manner.

    BCN welcomes all replies and retorts to this post. BCN absolutely supports candidates speaking directly to the public.

Issue One: With the Washington Daily News:

    Mr. Black (with the WDN), I have a couple of issues with the Sunday Sheriff Candidate page, three actually.

    First, Harry Meredith only has a BS in ENGLISH from/according to ECU. His Masters statement is like 90% of everything else he states.

    Secondly, while "NC licensed heating and air contractor" is correct, when applying for a position, you start with what is relevant first. If you had started with my law enforcement experience, or teaching CJ experience, or my Private Investigator experience, - even my education, this wouldn't be an issue at all. But you didn't with me, yet you did with the others. Disappointing.

    Lastly, thank goodness there wasn't a tenth candidate running, because if the WDN had to shrink the font anymore the page would vanish. Yes, it is more than absurdly small.

    Donald Dixon, Republican Sheriff candidate

Issue Two: Why does Harry want to use Barney to spread hate?

    How many people saw the post card my opponent sent out this week? It seems Harry is obsessed with what I do for a living! LOL, I'm a heating and air contractor by trade, that's what I do, but that IS NOT who I am.

    I grew up in church, in a Christian household, and was a boy scout growing up. I worked to pay for every vehicle I ever had, and the gas to feed it. I volunteered with Washington Fire and Rescue for four years before going into law enforcement; I was an EMT-I with advanced trauma life support training.

    I went to work at Beaufort County Sheriff's Office in 1998, and stayed five years. I was a supervisor for four and a half years, I taught law enforcement classes at BCCC for thirteen years, I was a field training officer (FTO) training new recruits to be deputies, I worked a drug K-9 in the school system as a school resource officer (SRO) and on patrol.

    I left BCSO in 2003, at which time I became a NC licensed private investigator. For nearly thirteen years I have investigated several cases across NC and into Virginia.

    My heating and air business has put me through college; I hold a BS Degree in Criminal Justice from Mt. Olive College and a Masters Degree with honors in Criminal Justice from East Carolina University.

    But that's not who I am either.

    I am honest and trustworthy. I am a father, a husband, and a grandfather. I am a Christian. I am a conservative Republican that believes in the Constitution of the United States of America, I believe those rights are worth fighting for and protecting.

    I am the only Sheriff candidate that stated at a public forum that I would, without a doubt, fight to protect your constitutional rights and the Bill of Rights. Other candidates stated they would quit their job and walk away or would submit to the Government seizure of your weapons.

    I am from - and have never left - Beaufort County. This is my home and I have no plans on leaving. That's who I am.

    I am the only Republican candidate that has actually patrolled Beaufort County.

    If you want a Sheriff that has done the job, knows what the problems are with a plan to fix those problems, vote for me, Donald Dixon for Beaufort County Sheriff.

    Thank you.

And Now a Reply from the WDN to Mr. Dixon's First Issue

    Mr. Dixon,

    Tony Black forwarded me your emails regarding our recent publication of candidates in tomorrow's primary. Thank you for your concern.

    The publication citing Harry Meredith's education was an error on our part at the Daily News. What Mr. Meredith wrote in his bio was that he had a college degree from ECU and some post graduate work. Unfortunately, this was printed as a bachelors and masters degree from East Carolina University. Mr. Meredith never claimed to have a masters degree. We will print a correction on the front page of the newspaper tomorrow.

    Your second concern about the candidates' employment information: we printed each entry exactly as it was sent to us by each candidate. The other candidates happened to have listed their law enforcement experience first.

    As for the print size, it is unfortunate that we must use small print to help local voters form a better understanding of the candidates in tomorrow's primary, but we would much rather use small print and get the information out there, than not get the information out there at all.

    I hope this alleviates some of your concerns.

    Vail Stewart Rumley
    Washington Daily News
    (252) 946-2144 ext.240