Willie Rowe

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Willie Rowe

Democratic Party

Wake County Sheriff

Tenure

2022 - Present

Term ends

2026

Years in position

2

Predecessor

Gerald Baker

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 8, 2022

Education

High school

Garner Senior High School

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Years of service

1978 - 1985

Personal

Birthplace

Raleigh, N.C.

Religion

Baptist

Profession

Law enforcement

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Willie Rowe (Democratic Party) is the Wake County Sheriff in North Carolina. He assumed office on December 5, 2022. His current term ends on December 7, 2026.

Rowe (Democratic Party) ran for election for Wake County Sheriff in North Carolina. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Rowe completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Willie Rowe was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. He served in the U.S. Army from 1978 to 1985. He earned a high school diploma from Garner Senior High School. His career experience includes working in law enforcement.

Elections

2022

See also: Municipal elections in Wake County, North Carolina (2022)

General election

General election for Wake County Sheriff

Willie Rowe defeated Donnie Harrison in the general election for Wake County Sheriff on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Willie Rowe (D)	53.8	241,899
		Donnie Harrison (R)	46.2	207,638

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 449,537
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Wake County Sheriff

Willie Rowe defeated incumbent Gerald Baker in the Democratic primary runoff for Wake County Sheriff on July 26, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Willie Rowe	75.3	23,954
		Gerald Baker	24.7	7,850

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 31,804
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Wake County Sheriff

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Wake County Sheriff on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Willie Rowe	29.4	25,731
✔		Gerald Baker	24.1	21,058
	Submit photo	Cedric L. Herring	16.4	14,312
	Submit photo	Roy Taylor	15.7	13,757
	Submit photo	Joe Coley	5.6	4,934
		Tommy Matthews	5.2	4,559
		Randolph Baity	3.6	3,157

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 87,508
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Wake County Sheriff

Donnie Harrison defeated Tivon Howard and David Blackwelder in the Republican primary for Wake County Sheriff on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Donnie Harrison	79.9	50,606
	Submit photo	Tivon Howard	12.0	7,588
		David Blackwelder	8.1	5,113

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 63,307
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Rowe's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Willie Rowe completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rowe's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m running for Sheriff because your safety matters. As an Army veteran and retired Major from the Sheriff’s Office I will restore public trust in the Sheriff's Office leadership, vision and commitment to serve and protect; reduce crime and enhance public safety, improve morale, increase officer’s presence and community engagement by building trusted relationships and honest communication with the community to prevent crime and foster positive relationships.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• My experiences serving as Chairman Wake County ABC Board and Chairman, Raleigh Inter-Church Housing has equipped me to serve as Sheriff. I’m a graduate of the NCSU Administrative Officer’s Management Program, Raleigh Police Department Leadership Institute, and served in senior staff level positions, assisted in developing and implementing budgets, policies and procedures; supervising and managing staff, resources and daily operations. My community volunteering and engagement to address affordable housing, ending hunger and homelessness, supporting second chance initiatives and mentoring for at risk youth has established ongoing community relationships that will help in restoring public trust, transparency and accountability.
• I'm running for Wake County Sheriff because your safety matters, you matter and your family matters! Simply put, people live life to the fullest when they feel safe. I'm committed to providing effective, inclusive, and efficient public safety because it's essential for the realization and shared experiences of quality education, clean environment, sound economy, reliable mass transit, and equal access to an overall quality life.
• Preventing Teen Bullying, when our youth are bullied they are prone to become victims and perpetrators of gun violence, drug addiction, mental health crisis, suicide, domestic and physical abuse and all forms of criminal behavior. Law enforcement and all stakeholders must work together to create opportunities for successful outcomes to ensure a caring, nurturing, supportive environment with engaged and appropriate parenting, structure, discipline, adequate food and affordable housing, measurable and sustainable policies and best practices are in place. As Sheriff I will join the Police Athletics and Activities League (PAL) to build trust and relationships for safer communities.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Transparency, Creating and maintaining a culture and environment of open, honest and accountable communications, interactions and engagement in the workplace and public. Leadership must set the example and expectations by modelling integrity and moral character. Establish and implement policies, procedures, guidelines and best practices with relevant training and documentation to ensure appropriate work performance and behavior are maintained. My commitment to equal protection, opportunity and access will result in leadership that values all people equally and instituting the highest expectations and standards for officers’ conduct, behavior and work performance. Appropriate policies, procedures, best practices, cultural awareness training and documentation will be in place to ensure accountability, relationship building and fair and equal treatment of all people.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I have many role models and I look up to each because of their ability to stand for and pursue what's right at the right time even in the face of opposition and regardless of how unpopular it may be.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"12 Angry Men" Don't blindly follow the opinions of others without utilizing your analytical abilities and muster the courage to present your message in the face of ridicule

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, character, leadership, humane and transparency.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I'm a listener, consensus builder, open to input and willing to stand for what's right and supportive of equality, opportunity and serving to the common good of all.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

One must possess a clear vision, strong and proven leadership skills, job knowledge, effective communication skills, sound judgement, the ability to address immediate needs and development of long term plans. Accessible, available and accountable to staff and the public; and a sincere commitment to abiding by, upholding and enforcing the law in a legal, fair and humane manner.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I strived to do what's right, gave my best, helped others and left this world in a better place than I found it.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963; 3 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

A summer job (3 months) at the age of 15, working for Hayes Contract Wiring.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible, it has the best instructions and examples on understanding human behavior and how to conduct yourself.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Superman

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Bridge Over Troubled Water

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Stop trying to be a fixer and be a better listener.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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