PENDER COUNTY — Mike Sorg Jr., Republican, is running for Pender County Sheriff. Sorg has 20 years of law enforcement experience and is the current Holly Ridge chief of police.
Port City Daily has sent a questionnaire to every candidate running in local elections in the tri-county region. The paywall is dropped on profiles to help voters make informed decisions ahead of casting their ballots.
As a reminder, the early voting period runs from Apr. 28 to May 14. The voter registration deadline is Apr. 22. Voters may partake in same-day registration throughout the two-week early voting period (check if your registration is active at your current address).
Primary Election Day is May 17. Voters will choose which candidates from their registered party they want to move forward in the formal election. Those who are registered as unaffiliated can choose which party’s primary they want to vote in.
Sorg’s stances on issues are discussed below. All answers are included in full and the candidate’s opinions and statements are not a reflection of Port City Daily. Responses are edited only for grammar, spelling and clarity.
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PCD: What sets you apart as a candidate?
Mike Sorg (MS): My career experience, work ethic, and drive. I’ve spent a lot of time in high-paced, high-liability, high-expectation environments. That experience has spanned from entry level positions to executive administrative positions.
I have constantly tried to improve my skills in order to better serve my community and co-workers. Both of my opponents are retired versus me. I am 20 years into a 30-year career. I’ve listed all my professional experience online in order to be open with voters to help them choose if I’m a candidate they should support. Neither of my candidates have done the same. I have the vision, direction, and drive to do the work that desperately needs to be done now for the citizens and employees of the Pender County Sheriff’s Office.
PCD: School safety has become a central issue for police and sheriff’s departments across the U.S. If elected, how would you address safety concerns in Pender County schools?
MS: When elected I will put an SRO in every school. It’s a societal expectation and should have happened long ago.
I will also be open with parents and not hide incidents at schools from them, like the opiate overdose in March 2022 at Topsail High School. Open honest communication is key when dealing with parents and children alike. Fentanyl, heroin, and opiates do not take prisoners or allow for “do-overs.”
I believe SROs should have to pass something that resembles a tactical team tryout and qualification. If you are in charge of guarding society’s most valuable assets, ie. our children, that is the lowest standard we should require.
PCD: How should we be addressing the opioid crisis? What does and does not work from your point of view?
MS: What works is networking/partnering with knowledgeable law enforcement agencies on the local and federal level because you don’t have people in place to fight it knowledgeably.
Illicit narco-trafficking does not stop at county, state, or country lines. Investigations need to be taken as far as possible. A narcotic’s investigator’s job is to cut the head off the snake and not chop the tail into 20 pieces. That is what I found works in my experience.
What works is having a commander with experience in Vice/Narcotics Investigations and Federal Investigations. What doesn’t work is publicly blaming other agencies for your failures that are your fault alone. The Sheriff’s Office has burned bridges with other agencies and these relationships need to be repaired.
PCD: How should the Pender County Sheriff’s Office plan for population growth?
MS: I believe they are late to the party on this issue, and it’s been a problem for this entire administration’s time in office. What’s needed now is a restructuring of positions and the budget; not only to begin to repair the lack of vision and direction thus far, but to begin preparing for growth in the future. Things can be accomplished a lot quicker than expected with some vision, direction, and drive.
PCD: Law enforcement agencies are having trouble recruiting and retaining in the current hiring climate. How would you ensure the county is obtaining the best deputies for the area?
MS: I have fully staffed two agencies since going to more administrative positions in 2018. That was accomplished with cooperation between the town government and the law enforcement agency to incentivize employment. Incentivize pay to be competitive, retain current employees and attract others. Put incentive programs in place for increased pay or benefit based upon job performance, completed specialties, longevity, and further education.
When elected, micromanagement will be a thing of the past. Staff will lead their people and be present for their needs. I’m a cop’s cop and believe happier employees provide better service.
Procedural Justice applies to employees also. Employees will be promoted based upon qualifications, performance, longevity, etc., and not the good ole boy system. I believe in extreme ownership (Jocko Willink) for leaders and supervisors. Not only is this lacking in our current county government, it’s lacking in our nation.
PCD: What can and should be done to improve relations between law enforcement and historically marginalized populations?
MS: I believe that informal, frequent, and personal contact is the starting point to reach out to the fringes of our society. This must be done wholeheartedly without expectation of a certain outcome, just extend the olive branch. An important aspect is to continue to reach out when you don’t get an immediate return on investment. Trust is the foundation of any good and prosperous relationship. This is also where Procedural Justice comes into play. Equal application of the law, policy, procedure for all.
PCD: Is there an additional issue or issues you think need(s) to be addressed during your term, should you win?
MS: I was asked at the last debate (April 12) if I would support another candidate if I wasn’t the winner of the primary. I said that I didn’t come here to support another candidate and we need change now.
The current administration are well intentioned people who love Pender County and the Pender County Sheriff’s Office. But, they lack the ability, drive, and vision to do what needs to be done at this time in order to develop and change the Pender County Sheriff’s Office for the better.
I believed this in 2019 and nothing has occurred to change this opinion. I ask that all Independent and Republican voters be active in this primary in Pender County, vote. I need your help and ask for your support and vote on May 17.
The future of the Pender County Sheriff’s Office and your public safety are dependent upon it. I also would like to thank everyone who has given money, time, and effort to my campaign! Mike Sorg for Pender Sheriff, thank you!
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