With 28 years in law enforcement, long time Benson resident Terry Hake, Jr. announced Monday he will run an independent campaign for Johnston County Sheriff.
“I am announcing my intentions to seek a position on the ballot for Sheriff of Johnston County in the November 2018 General Election,” said Mr. Hake. “I am maintaining my Republican Party registration but will seek a ballot position as an unaffiliated candidate through registered voter signature petitions to get on the November ballot.”
Mr. Hake is required by state law to obtain nearly 4,900 signatures of registered Johnston County voters to get access to the General Election ballot. He must obtain those signatures and have them turned in to the Johnston County Board of Elections no later than May 8th to be on the November 6th ballot.
Hake, who has 28 years in law enforcement, currently serves as a Captain in the Wake County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to joining the sheriff’s office in 1990, he served as a non-commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps, 2nd Light Armored Recon/Security Forces.
“We need a Sheriff’s Office to catch up with the growth we’ve seen in Johnston County,” said Hake. “We need more deputies on the road and better response times for our citizens. We need a Sheriff who will look at the critical needs facing our county and our citizens and work to make sure they have the protection and service they need.” .
“One of my top priorities will be to look at how we can improve staffing assignments to put more personnel on the road helping our citizens. Currently, we have a management structure that in my opinion is top heavy. We can reassign some staffing and actually reduce response times and improve patrol coverage for our citizens,” said Mr. Hake.
Hake said the race isn’t about politics. “This is about providing safety and security for the people of Johnston County. I realize I am entering the race late, but I am doing so because I see the critical need we have for stronger leadership in the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. We need new leadership and new direction that will put the people before politics,” he said.
He is married to Kimberly Hake. Terry has an adult daughter Kristyn Hake, 26, who attends N.C. State University; a son, Cody Hake, 24, who is in the Marine Corps Reserves and is seeking his engineering degree. Terry has two step-daughters, Kailey Knight, 17, who will be attending Liberty University next year and Amber Knight, 13, who will be attending West Johnston High next year. They attend Shiloh Baptist Church.
Incumbent Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell has opposition from former Wake and Johnston County deputy Bill Burgess in the May 8th Republican Primary.
If Hake is successful in gathering 4900 signatures of registered Johnston County voters by May 8th, his name will appear on the Nov. 6th ballot alongside the winner of the Republican Primary.
