Correction: The original version of this story had inaccurate information on the educational history for one of the candidates. It has been corrected below. 

Next month, Polk County voters will be asked to narrow down the candidates seeking office on Election Day in November.

The local primary election will take place May 8, where registered voters will select which candidates they would like to represent either the Republican or Democrat parties in the general election on Nov. 6. For Polk County voters, one of the most contested races will be between the candidates seeking their respective party’s nomination for county sheriff. 

Seeking the Republican nomination are Retired North Carolina Highway Patrol officer Darryl Bailey and Tryon Police Department Capt. Tim Wright, while squaring off for the Democrat spot on the ticket are Polk County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Capt. B.J. Bayne and Polk County Sheriff Deputy Ronnie Smith. 

The top vote getters for each party during the primary election will move on to the general election in November, where they will face each other for the sheriff’s seat, currently occupied by Donald Hill, who is not seeking re-election.

Polls for the May 8 primary will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. People may only vote in the primary for the party with which they are affiliated — unaffiliated voters may vote in either.

Early voting for the primaries began Thursday, and will take place through Saturday, May 5.

To help give voters a better look at the four sheriff candidates on the ballot next month, the Bulletin sent a questionnaire containing pertinent questions about the race to each of the law enforcement officials. Below are the next set of responses from the two candidates seeking the Democrat nomination.

Name: B.J. Bayne

Party: Democrat

Professional background: Investigator, training, patrol division and assistant chief with the University of North Carolina-Asheville Police Department; deputy, school resource officer and investigator with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Current occupation: Captain of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigation division.

Education: Landrum High School, associate’s degree in criminal justice from Isothermal Community College, in the process of obtaining a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice/law enforcement administration from Gardner-Webb University.

What is your top priority, if elected, and what do you think you offer that other candidates may not?

When I am elected sheriff, my top priority will be protecting and serving the citizens of Polk County.

By ensuring a smooth transition for employees as to not interrupt service for our citizens and not put extra burden on our budget halfway through the fiscal year. I will work with our county to meet the growing need for more patrol coverage by reorganizing the structure of positions and responsibilities, to allow for growth in our officers.

I believe the positions I have served in as a law enforcement officer and my life experiences separate me from the other candidates. I bring experience and understanding of how a sheriff’s office should serve its citizens. An understanding of the compassion and professionalism it takes to serve our communities, while keeping our citizens safe and the experience to lead this office with common sense and humility into the future.

Do you feel our schools in Polk County are safe? What would you recommend to the school board and county board of commissioners to improve school safety, if anything?

I do feel that our schools are safe. However, keeping our children free from harm should always be a work-in-progress.

It is our responsibility, regardless of what we have done or will do in the future, to ensure our kids a safe learning environment. As sheriff, I will work with elected officials, both the county commissioners and school board, to eventually see that every school in Polk County is assigned a school resource officer. I also will advocate that the two governing bodies evaluate each educational structure to reduce the access to the buildings during school hours.

As sheriff, I want to routinely conduct joint training exercises to include local first responders and emergency personnel, school personnel and students. In the event a tragedy did occur, everyone will know their responsibilities and how to respond.

The construction of the new Law Enforcement center is nearing competition and should be in operation for approximately six months by the time you are elected. How do you plan to utilize the new facility to improve the county’s security and ability to reduce crime?

As the new Polk County Law Enforcement Center will provide an array of security for the personnel and inmates, it will also provide space for a variety of programs.

As sheriff, I plan to partner with Isothermal Community College to help inmates achieve their high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma to aid in seeking employment. I want to work with job placement groups for employment opportunities for eligible participants upon release.

We will partner with community organizations, along with volunteer groups who will facilitate Alcohol and Narcotics Anonymous Chapters. The effectiveness of these programs will have a positive impact on the crime rate as well as reduction of inmates being housed.

By incorporating these programs jointly prior to an inmate release, the recidivism rate will be decreased, therefore lowering the people of Polk County’s chances of becoming a victim of a crime.

What do you think the impact will be on the sheriff’s office from Tryon International Equestrian Center, and how do you plan to deal with the influx of people and traffic to Polk County, while keeping local residents safe?

The safety and wellbeing of our citizens will come first and foremost to me as sheriff.

As Tryon International Equestrian Center continues to grow and people are drawn to Polk County both to live here or visit, public safety is going to be more in demand.

TIEC and the North Carolina Department of Transportation are currently implementing major road work to assist in the increased traffic around our county. As sheriff, I will work closely with TIEC to ensure the sheriff’s office is aware of larger events to be prepared for an increase of people.

I will work with area police departments along with the highway patrol to ensure motorists are being held to safe driving practices to keep accidents to a minimum.

With plans to restructure the sheriff’s office, additional deputies will be added to increase the patrol division enhancing more visibility and quicker response times.

The two issues noted as most affecting county residents are mental health and drug abuse. How do you plan to tackle these issues if you are elected?

To combat and assist our communities in dealing with drug and mental health issues, we must work together.

Currently, community partners are working together to develop a plan for combating opioid addiction in Polk County. One of the biggest hurdles is getting everyone engaged that is needed to develop a means to a solution for all involved, the support must continue. 

As sheriff, I will work with community and county organizations to develop and implement programs and extend resources to help assist during these situations. Often people forget that the person in the crisis-situation is not our only concern; the families need support and assistance as well.

Officers will be trained in responding to these types of incidents and will have specialized training in assisting mental health situations as they occur.

Name: Ronnie Smith

Party: Democrat

Professional background: Polk County EMS; Polk County Rescue Squad; and patrol, civil process, jail, prisoner transports, handling and transporting psychiatric patients, and K-9 narcotics detection with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Current occupation: Deputy sheriff with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Education: Polk County public schools, Isothermal Community College and Gardner Webb University.

What is your top priority, if elected, and what do you think you offer that other candidates may not?

My priority is to protect and serve the citizens of Polk County with a professional staff through honesty, integrity and accountability.

I will have an open-door policy for those who have concerns or issues that need to be addressed by law enforcement. If law enforcement isn’t needed, they will be provided with information where they can get answers.

No situation is too small or large that does not need attention, while displaying courtesy and honesty to everyone. I know Polk County, and that will allow me to have the ability to implement this priority.

My major goal is to get the community watch up and going, along with keeping the R-U-OK program operating.

Do you feel our schools in Polk County are safe? What would you recommend to the school board and county board of commissioners to improve school safety, if anything?

Our schools are safe until the unexpected happens.

Each school needs qualified school resource officers who work well with the public and school administration.

Schools and students must be protected whatever the cost. It is a joint effort between the schools, principals, school administration, county commissioners and law enforcement officials. The state board of education would be invited to have input and assist with outlining safety guidelines that would fit Polk County’s needs.

You cannot put a price on school safety. We will work with school officials on things like cameras, which are one of the greatest deterrents to unwanted activity on school property, and working on limited access to the schools.

The construction of the new Law Enforcement center is nearing competition and should be in operation for approximately six months by the time you are elected. How do you plan to utilize the new facility to improve the county’s security and ability to reduce crime?

The new facility is modernly designed to accept inmates for special problems medically and those having mental issues.

The new 60-bed unit versus the 25-bed unit currently in use will be more economic with a savings of over $90,000 by not having to house inmates out-of-county. This will free up officers to patrol rather than having to transport these inmates back and forth from their current detention locations to Polk County for court.

What do you think the impact will be on the sheriff’s office from Tryon International Equestrian Center, and how do you plan to deal with the influx of people and traffic to Polk County, while keeping local residents safe?

The priority is to serve the people of Polk County.

It is going to be nothing Polk County can imagine. Multiple state, local and federal agencies are all working together to supply the services needed. The sheriff’s office is in dire need of additional officers and equipment to handle the influx of people now, with all the events predicted in the future.

The two issues noted as most affecting county residents are mental health and drug abuse. How do you plan to tackle these issues if you are elected?

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is actively attacking the drug problems that are ongoing.

Many mental health issues stem from drug abuse. Mental health issues come in all forms.

Often, limited resources can hinder care for those with mental health issues, but local support groups and crisis management have launched programs to help those in dire need. It is truly a challenge, but these agencies and support groups give officers referral resources to those in need or distress.