First Posted: 1/15/2009

Robeson County residents seem to be satisfied with the job that Sheriff Kenneth Sealey is doing in office as they gave him the nod for the democratic nomination on Tuesday, May 2.
In a big surprise to many, the highly-contested county democratic sheriff’s race turned into a lop-sided win for the sheriff’s spot as Sheriff Sealey won 51 percent of Robeson County voters. With seven in the running for the one spot, Sealey’s closest challenger, Mark Locklear, won only 17 percent of the vote. According to unofficial returns, the light turnout showed Sealey winning with 7,905 votes to 2,674 for Mr. Locklear.
The results were to have been canvassed yesterday by the Robeson County Board of Elections. The sheriff will now face Republican James R. Hall in the General Election on November 7.
Retired North Carolina Highway Patrolmen Emmett Brown and Hubert Covington placed third and fourth with 1,534 votes and 1,227 votes, respectively. Former chief deputy from the Sheriff’s Office Willie (Mack) Watson collected 1,056 votes. Challenger C.A. Brown Jr. got 146 votes and three-time challenger James E. Sanderson picked up 102 votes.
This was Sealey’s first election since hew was appointed by former Robeson County Sheriff Glenn Maynor retired last December, to replace him. He was then approved by the County Commisioners.