Lenoir County Elections: Ingram vs. Rogers. Who will be the next sheriff?
The November 8 General Election in Lenoir County does not boast a lot of contested races for voters to choose from. However, the ones that are contested are key in how politics will play out for residents in the next four years.
Current Lenoir County Sheriff Ronnie Ingram is seeking re-election for a second time and is running against former state trooper Jackie Rogers.
Ingram, 62, was re-elected in 2018 and is hoping to serve a third term since 2014. He is married to his wife Cindy and has two sons Jamie and Jeremy as well as four grandchildren Lexi, Jerimiah, Kayden and Landon. He took business law classes at Lenoir Community College and received BLET training at Wilson Technical College in Wilson.
Rogers, 51, is no stranger to law enforcement having retired as an N.C. State Highway Patrol Trooper. He is married to his wife Dawn and has two sons Drew and Carson. He received his education from Pitt Community College and is running as a Republican.
With election day just around the corner and early voting set to begin on Oct. 20, the Kinston Free Press sent questionnaires to candidates running in contested races to find out their views on issues that matter to them the most. Below are the responses from Ingram and Rogers.
What is the best way for voters to contact you?
Ingram: I can be reached at 252-559-6108 or by email at ronnie.ingram@lenoircountync.gov.
Rogers: The best way for voters to contact me is by direct message on any one of my social media platforms. I have both Facebook, Jackie Rogers for Lenoir County Sheriff and Instagram, jackierogers4sheriff2022. I also have a website www.votejackierogers.com and an email where you can contact me or my campaign team directly at jackierogers738@yahoo.com.
What experience do you have that makes you a good candidate?
Ingram: I have 37 and a half years in law enforcement with 27 of those years as a supervisor. I have spent the majority of my life serving the public.
Rogers: I was a police officer for the city of Kinston for 8 and a half years and during that time I earned several different titles. I was a member of the Police Community Action Team, Narcotics Detective, numerous drug task forces, SWAT team and field training officer.
What do you read to stay informed on issues?
Ingram: I read Neuse News, Kinston Free Press, News and Observer, Updates from the North Carolina Sheriff's Association, and information from the Department of Justice and Police1 Magazines.
Rogers: I read several different platforms from the local level with Neuse News, The Free Press and Eagle News; also, several law enforcement blogs and websites including Police One, Police Magazine, Improving Police, Discover Police, Police Chief Magazine, Sheriff.org and Cops Alive.
If elected, what would you do to stay transparent as an elected official?
Ingram: I will continue to have an open-door policy, keep employees and the public informed, be open and honest with everyone and available and willing to meet with the public as well as employees.
Rogers: First off, all my deputies will have live/working body cams. Secondly, and most importantly, you will see me out. I will be available and accessible to all my deputies and the people.
What do you think is the most important issue for the seat you are running for, how do you want to resolve it? How has current leadership addressed the issue?
Ingram: Safety of personnel as well as our citizens. We have worked with the county manager and our county commissioners to purchase equipment, I've purchased equipment out of drug forfeiture funds, and I've obtained equipment with grant funds. We are always looking for better ways of doing things, ways to obtain equipment from federal surplus at no cost to our taxpayers or the county. We are putting tablets in the jail at no cost to our citizens to combat inmates from having forms of drugs soaked and slipped into the facility.
Rogers: The most important issue that I believe currently is manpower. I need to get into the office and access the situation more closely. I am also very concerned with the drug problems we have in our county. The current leadership has not been able to resolve the personnel issues or the growing drug problems in our county.
This article originally appeared on Kinston/Jones Free Press: Lenoir County Elections: Ingram vs. Rogers. Who will be the next sheriff?
