Donnie Harrison

Donnie Harrison is an American retired law enforcement officer who served as the Sheriff of Wake County, North Carolina from 2002 to 2018. Prior to taking the position, he was for 26 years a law enforcement officer in Wake County with the North Carolina Highway Patrol. From 1988 to 1992, he was also the Chief of Security for Lieutenant Governor James Carson Gardner.[1][2]

Donnie Harrison
Sheriff of Wake County, North Carolina
In office
2002–2018
Preceded byJohn Baker
Succeeded byGerald Mauroka Baker
Personal details
Born (1946-03-01) March 1, 1946
Bear Grass, North Carolina
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceGarner, North Carolina

Elections

Harrison's first campaign for Wake County sheriff in 1998 against long-time incumbent John Baker was unsuccessful. Baker, nicknamed "Big John," was an iconic Raleigh political figure and former defensive lineman in the NFL. Baker was first elected sheriff in 1978, becoming the first Black sheriff in North Carolina since the Reconstruction era. Harrison sought a rematch in 2002 and won.

The two men faced off again for a third time in 2006 which resulted in Harrison winning convincingly, but not without controversy. His 2006 re-election was mired in controversy as it was released that Donnie Harrison had committed adultery with a Garner optometrist's wife while he was still married. Harrison's campaign adviser stated, "There's no denying there was an affair, but the marriage was doomed before the affair happened. Then suddenly, six days before the election, this appears? That says there's got to be a lot of political motivation behind this."[3][4] Adultery remains a misdemeanor level crime in North Carolina.[5]

In 2008, Harrison helped dedicate the Wake County Public Safety Center in honor of Baker who had died in 2007.[6]

In 2018, Harrison ran for reelection for a fifth time but was defeated by Gerald Mauroka Baker during the 2018 midterm elections.[7]

Political involvement

Harrison is a self-described conservative Republican. He has weighed in on multiple elections during his tenure as Sheriff, including an endorsement of Pat McCrory's 2008 gubernatorial campaign, and Senator Richard Burr in 2010. In November 2011, Harrison publicly endorsed Wake County Commissioner Tony Gurley for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, and former U.S. Attorney George Holding for United States Congress.[8] In his 2010 re-election campaign Harrison won the endorsement of the Muslim American Public Affairs Council.

Personal life

Harrison's wife, Gail, died of lung cancer August 5, 2001, 10 days before the couple's 36th wedding anniversary.[3] In May 2010, Harrison's daughter, Paula, was arrested on felony drug charges.[9]

References
  1. Harrison backs McCain Archived March 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Harrison Robocalls for McCrory Archived March 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Affair clouds Sheriff's race". Newsobserver. 2006-11-03. Archived from the original on November 29, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
  4. Harrison Wins Reelection
  5. "§ 14-184. Fornication and adultery".
  7. WRAL. "Election upset means new sheriff in town for Wake :: WRAL.com". wral.com. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  8. Harrison endorses Gurley for Lt. Gov.
  9. Wake sheriff's daughter arrested Archived January 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine


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