Incumbent Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell handily won the Republican Primary for Sheriff on Tuesday over challenger Bill Burgess, a former deputy.
In unofficial results, Bizzell received 7,716 votes while Burgess received 1,299 votes. Bizzell carried over 85 percent of the vote total cast in the race.
Bizzell has no Democratic opposition on the ballot in November and will return for his sixth term as sheriff this fall.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this vote of confidence and support from the people of Johnston County. We have built a strong team at the sheriff’s office and I am grateful for this opportunity to continue to serve the citizens of Johnston County,” Sheriff Bizzell said after the Primary win Tuesday night.
Terry Hake Jr., who announced in April he planned to have his name added to the November ballot as an independent candidate dropped out of the race Monday night after failing to gather the required signatures before a 5pm deadline today (Tuesday). Hake said he received 4200 signatures, 700 less than the required 4900.
Bizzell is a lifelong county resident who was first elected in 1998 after serving under two former sheriff’s. He is one of North Carolina’s longest-serving elected county sheriff’s.
I will continue to work hard for the people of Johnston County, so that we can keep Johnston County a safe community to live, work, and raise our children,” Bizzell said Tuesday night. “I take great pride in the accomplishments that we, working together as a team, have made over the years and look forward for the opportunity to continue the progress and serve the citizens of Johnston County.”
