It didn’t seem to get much notice in last night’s election diaries, because everyone was so excited about Pittenger, but in the primary race for Sheriff of NC’s Mecklenburg County, an incumbent also went down decisively.
Incumbent Mecklenburg County Sheriff Irwin Carmichael conceded the sheriff's race Tuesday night as former Charlotte-Mecklenburg police detective Garry McFadden cruised to an easy win. The result signals the end of a controversial immigration program in the county's jail.
McFadden had about 52 percent of the vote with all precincts reporting.
Carmichael, who was in last place with about 20 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary, conceded just before 10 p.m. City human resources manager Antoine Ensley was in second place, with about 28 percent of the vote.
McFadden is virtually guaranteed a four-year term as Mecklenburg County sheriff. No Republicans are running.
Mecklenburg County is the home of Charlotte NC, and is the first NC county to surpass a million in population. Like many dense urban areas, it’s a magnet for immigrants and minorities. There are many central and south American immigrants living in Charlotte, but also African, Caribbean, South Asian, and other groups in increasing numbers. Thus, Democrat Irwin Carmichael’s insistence on following the 287(g) policy of collaboration with ICE was unpopular locally. The program has led to an estimated 15,000 deportations since 2006.
Other unpopular Carmichael policies included use of solitary confinement for juveniles, and installation of a financially exploitative privately owned video system that replaced in-person family visits for inmates. He wasn’t uniformly terrible, but these issues sunk him in the primary.
McFadden promises to improve the situation, and he has no Republican opponent.