Republican Ronnie Fields defeated Independent Steve Adams for Moore County Sheriff by a substantial margin. Unofficial Moore County results have Fields defeating Adams 26,115 to 9,292.

Fields, a native of Moore County, has been in law enforcement for over 30 years. He has served with both the Moore County Sheriff’s Department and the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

Fields retired from Moore County Sheriff’s Department in 2013 with the rank of Major. He also served on the town board of Carthage from 1999-2007 when he became the Mayor of Carthage, serving until 2009. Fields had been endorsed by retired Sheriff’s Lane Carter and Frank Johnson. 

During the campaign, Fields touted his experience in law enforcement promising to only provide a sheriff’s office whose officers will conduct themselves with the highest levels of integrity and professionalism. He also has promised to establish an anti-drug task force and to greater expand community policing.

Steve Adams (All photo contributed)

Adams ran as a political outsider promising to bring his years of business experience to help correct what he saw as an inefficient and fiscally irresponsible sheriff’s office. He is the owner of WEEB Radio and Talk 97.3 FM Radio in Southern Pines. Adam promised reforms including establishing a local crime lab, leasing out surplus jail space and taking steps to reduce the turnover in the sheriff department.  Adams also ran for Sheriff in 2014.

The Democratic Challenger Mike Connor was forced to drop out of the campaign after being charged with several traffic offenses including driving while impaired.

Fields will replace outgoing sheriff Neil Godfrey who he defeated in the Republican Primary. North Carolina Sheriffs’ serve four year terms. Fields will take office in January of 2019.

Article written by Sandhills Sentinel  Reporter, Chris Prentice.

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