Randy Burton served in the New Hanover County Emergency Medical Services unit after graduating high school, moving on to the Pender County Sheriff’s Office and then New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, where he was promoted to the Vice and Narcotics Division.
Burton continued to serve as a part-time law enforcement agent – most recently as a patrol deputy with the Pender County Sheriff’s Office – while also serving in the Wilmington Fire Department. After 14 years, Burton was promoted to Battalion Chief. Burton has served a total of 31 years as a law enforcement agent.
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Pender County Sheriff – Primary Election 2018
Randy Burton is one of seven candidates for Pender County Sheriff are competing in the 2018 Republican Primary Election; the winner, chosen May 8, will face off against Democrat Lawrence Fennell.
Current Sheriff Carson Smith has served four terms, but will not run for reelection; he will instead run to replace Representative Chris Millis, who stepped down from his position in September.
The Pender County Sheriff oversees an office in charge of nearly a thousand square miles with manpower that has, historically, been limited in part due to Pender’s relatively low population density. Five times the size of New Hanover County, Pender has about one fifth the population.
The sheriff is elected to a four-year term, and is paid a $101,137 salary, plus health benefits. Criminal cases in Pender County are tried in the 5th District Court by the office of District Attorney Ben David.
Editor’s note: At the time of publication, five of the candidates had responded to questions. Responses from remaining candidates will be published if and when they are received.
The questions
School safety is on everyone’s mind. How would you address those concerns, both in schools and in the community?
There is nothing more paramount than the protection of our children. While we should not have to worry about the safety of our children while they are away from our care at school, we must acknowledge that we live in a time where nothing is off limits from evil. As a father and grandfather who has children in the Pender County school system, I relate to the worry that can consume us parents when it comes to the safety of our children and I believe that it is past time for action.
If given the honor to serve as your sheriff, the protection that devoted and armed school resource officers can provide on this front will be a top priority under my leadership. Armed officers that will serve with courage to secure our educational campuses, along with strengthened partnerships with our school leaders can result in a safer learning environment for our children and peace of mind for us parents.
We cannot afford ineffective leadership when it comes to this subject, as a father and grandfather, this is one of many reasons I sincerely ask for your vote
The Pender County Sheriff’s Office has a lot of ground to cover – do you feel the office has sufficient manpower to do so? What is your plan to utilize the office’s resources to the fullest without neglecting either the eastern or western part of the county?
The Sheriff’s Office is currently understaffed.
As Pender County continues to grow rapidly, my past experience and qualifications have equipped me to be able to deliver as sheriff on day one the required leadership and management skills to create a growth plan for the Sheriff’s Office.
This strategic growth plan will create efficiencies that will lead to an increased presence of law enforcement all across Pender County and will result in the greater ability to keep the citizens of Pender County safe.
The professional management of our tax dollars to increase personnel and improve operational efficiency is a skill I look forward to putting into practice if granted the honor to be Pender County’s next sheriff.
What experience do you have handling a government budget?
My comprehensive and diverse background in full-time EMS (emergency medical services), law enforcement, and fire and rescue over the past 32 years uniquely equips me to execute the responsibilities of sheriff for the citizens of Pender County on day one.
The last six years of my role as a Battalion Chief has given me the qualifications and experience as an administrator, incident commander, personnel manager and senior staff officer of a department of over 230 personnel with an $18 million budget.
As a senior staff officer, I had direct oversight of over 60 individuals. In this lead role, I was responsible for monitoring aspects of their employment that had a direct impact on the operational budget.
In addition, my previous leadership capacities required assisting in yearly budgetary analysis and planning for future years. I sincerely hope that the citizens of Pender will give me the opportunity to be their next sherriff so that I may put into practice the essential skills required for the office that I have developed over the past three decades.
What is your vision for how the Pender County Sheriff’s Office will handle the opioid crisis?
This problem has grown from an epidemic into a national pandemic that has swept across our nation. Firsthand knowledge gained through my law enforcement experience in narcotics fighting the source of our crisis–drug trafficking–grants me the capability and skill set to effectively combat the opioid problem.
My narcotics law enforcement background combined with witnessing the devastation the opioids cause as a first responder in both EMS and fire and rescue has me deeply motivated to fight on the citizens behalf. If given the opportunity to be Pender County’s next sheriff, I will lead through the tough enforcement of narcotics law and with the perspective that addiction also requires collaborating with communities, families and treatment organizations to help those affected by this poison.
When, if ever, was the last time you had a hands-on role in a criminal case (i.e. from arrest, to the magistrate, to court, and giving testimony)?
Over the course of the past 30 years that I have been a sworn law enforcement officer, I have arrested hundreds of individuals from misdemeanor violations to drug trafficking, violent crimes and even murder.
Specifically, I have more than six years of experience as a narcotics detective, where I was responsible for numerous felony drug investigations, arrests, and millions of dollars in asset seizures from drug traffickers.
Throughout my service, I have testified in numerous cases in both state and federal jurisdictions. If given the opportunity to serve as sheriff, I am confidently equipped to carry out the role of an administrator responsible for the office while making sure my staff has the adequate resources to effectively do their job of enforcing the law and serving the citizens.
My law enforcement experience across three decades has greatly prepared me to serve fully within the proper role of sheriff and I possess the skills to assist the judicial branch with bringing the guilty to justice.
Do you feel that arrests made by the Pender County Sheriff’s Office are adequately pursued in court by prosecutors in the District Attorney’s office?
I have no knowledge of the District Attorney’s office in the 5th judicial district being anything other than highly motivated to seek justice for victims on behalf of our county and the State of North Carolina.
As sheriff, I will be an advocate for continued professionalism within the District Attorney’s office and will work hard alongside of the judiciary to ensure that justice is served.
The sheriff is a law enforcement agent, but also an administrator. Have you ever managed an organization of 50 or more individuals – if so, when? What was your management strategy?
Yes. In fact, my recent leadership role as a Battalion Chief gave me the unique experience to serve as a lead administrator, incident commander, personnel manager and senior staff officer of a department that has over 230 employees and a budget of more than $18 million.
I routinely held command oversight of over 60 in the operations division and was responsible as the on-scene incident commander of large-scale expanding and escalating incidents.
My past success with managing personnel under my command is due to: putting in the hard work I expected from my staff; establishing clear expectations; and advancing a culture of integrity and character. If given the honor to be Sheriff, I look forward to the opportunity to apply my extensive managerial experience for the benefit of the taxpayers and for the safety of the citizens.
The Sheriff must also delegate effectively, especially to a second in command. Who do you plan to put in that role and what are his/her credentials?
It is true the Sheriff must delegate effectively, especially to a Chief Deputy to assist in the daily operations of the Sheriff’s Office, but the Sheriff must never delegate the responsibility of the office.
Only the most deserving individual who has the capability to perform the tasks that come with the role of Chief such as: command oversight, budget preparation, and who has complete knowledge of the various positions within the office should be placed in this role.
If given the opportunity to serve as Sheriff, I will install only the most qualified and capable individual in the role of Chief Deputy. The protection of our loved ones from harm depend on having the very best personnel at all levels and the leadership role of Chief Deputy is vital to the effectiveness of the entire department.
Has your personal or professional conduct ever been seriously called in question in the course of any employment?
Over the past 32 years of my professional public service career in EMS, law enforcement, and fire/rescue my conduct has never been called into question. I have served the public over the past 32 years with honor and distinction. If granted the privilege to serve as sheriff, I look forward to the opportunity to continue my exemplary record for the benefit of the citizens of Pender County.
