By By MIKE VOSS
mike@wdnweb.com
Contributing Editor
Beaufort County Sheriff Alan Jordan easily won a fourth four-year term Tuesday by carrying 19 of the county’s 21 precincts and collecting nearly 1,300 more votes than challenger Donald Dixon on absentee ballots and in early voting.
Jordan, a Democrat, tallied 9,889 votes to Dixon’s 6,567 votes. On absentee ballots and in early voting, Jordan collected 3,657 votes to Dixon’s 2,394 votes.
Dixon, a Republican, carried two polling places, Beaver Dam and Hunter’s Bridge.
Vote totals are unofficial until canvassed and certified by the Beaufort County Board of Elections. The board is scheduled to canvass the ballots Nov. 12.
“I think all the precincts are in, so we feel good,” Jordan said in an interview after the polls closed. “We got the results called in, and it looks like we had a nice win and we are grateful.”
“We run the same style campaign regardless. We try to have a positive message and hopefully our work speaks for itself. The key to my success is to surround myself with good people inside and outside the sheriff’s office, and that’s the biggest key to our success is good people,” Jordan said.
As for how this election compares to his previous campaigns, Jordan said, “I haven’t even taken time to look at those figures and compare to past years.
“I’ve been fortunate and blessed to serve three terms and it is something you don’t take for granted. Every aspect we take seriously, including campaigning.
“I think the thing I’m confident about is the good people who support us and that gives me confidence and I’m grateful to the people of Beaufort County who give me the opportunity to serve them in a job that I love.
“I want to thank everybody. It’s a wonderful privilege to serve.”
Attempts to contact Dixon for comment were unsuccessful by the Daily News’ deadline Tuesday night.
Dixon is a former deputy with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. He joined the sheriff’s office in 1998, shortly before Jordan was elected sheriff. Earlier this year, Dixon said he started as a patrolman, was promoted to sergeant and left the sheriff’s office in 2003 as a corporal.
In 2006, Dixon lost to Jordan in the Democratic primary. Jordan was unopposed in his re-election bid in the general election in 2006.
In 2002, Jordan defeated Tommy Miller, a retired N.C. Highway Patrol sergeant.
Jordan has served as sheriff since 1998, when he defeated five other Democrats in the primary election.
Jordan has provided 23 years of law enforcement service to Beaufort County. He served as a chief deputy with the sheriff’s office from 1996 until 1998, and he worked his way up through the ranks.
Jordan is a graduate of East Carolina University and the National Sheriff’s Academy Executive Development Program. He holds an advanced certification in law enforcement from the North Carolina Department of Justice, among other certificates.