Candidate Q&As for March 3 primary

To our readers:

Four contested local elections are on the March 3 North Carolina Primary ballot, all Republican races:

— Randolph Sheriff (4 candidates)

— Randolph County Commission Dist. 3 (2 candidates)

— NC. House Rep. Dist. 78 (2 candidates)

— NC District Court Judge Dist. 37 Seat 4 (4 candidates)

One winner will be selected from each race and be put on the ballot for the November election.

Each was emailed an invite for an opportunity to take some time to make their case to Randolph County voters in this free offering. Those who reply will have their responses printed in this email and shared to the Randolph Hub Facebook page. They are listed here in each race in order of our having received their responses.

There is no time limit for replies to be posted in this email. However, candidates have until Friday to be also included in the print edition of Randolph Hub on Feb. 25.

Here are responses from those who have sent in materials. In each race they have been posted in the order I received them. Photos were also optional; not all have chosen to use one. Feel free to contact the individual candidates with questions as each has provided contact info. Finally, take advantage of your right to vote and vote early or on Election Day.
 

Randolph County Sheriff race

Name — Chris “Taco” Toriello

CONTACT INFO FOR VOTERS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Chris-Taco-Toriello-for-Randolph-County-Sheriff-61578485634654/
Email: toriello4sheriff@gmail.com

What in your background makes you a good candidate …

I have a very diverse portfolio of experience. I started as a volunteer in the fire service and EMS. I have 34 years of law enforcement experience all in Randolph County. From the local to the federal, I gained unique experiences in each area that I served. I am the only candidate including the seated sheriff that has this experience. I still teach. I am directly influencing the group of new and young officers that are coming into law enforcement. I have general and specialized teaching credentials. I am the only candidate that currently teaches in BLET. I am physically and mentally prepared to do this job. I have spent more than 30 years preparing. The sheriff should not ask his deputies to do things that he cannot do himself. Lead by example.

Why you …

I am the only candidate that has a diverse amount of experiences in all aspects of law enforcement. I have spent 34 years gaining knowledge, leadership skills, and hands on experience in nearly every division of law enforcement. My training has allowed me to make contacts inside and outside of Randolph County that will build a strong network of support for myself and the sheriff’s office. I am the only candidate that has multiple teaching certifications and continues to teach in the Basic Law Enforcement Training and Detention Officer’s School at Randolph Community College. The detention center is a special area under the sheriff’s office purview that requires knowledge and training to run. I was the Captain of Operations at the detention center as well as the Major over administration at the Detention Center, therefore I have the requisite knowledge to manage that very large portion of the sheriff’s office. I have an extensive background in drug enforcement as I was the DEA Task Force Agent for the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office for multiple years until I was promoted to Lieutenant over the civil division. All of this experience is seated on a solid foundation of multiple years serving in the patrol division at three different agencies.

Why now …

I have spent 34 years investing into training, leadership development, and gaining experiences from a vast number of opportunities. I feel like all of these skills are necessary to become the Sheriff of Randolph County and to approach the position with any less would be a disservice to the community.

Your goals …

The first thing that needs to be changed is the culture. There needs to be a culture of appreciation but at the same time there must be accountability. The supervisors must be trained in leadership and that must translate down the line. It is up to every leader to create an environment where everyone has room to learn and develop. We must implement fiscal responsibility. We are spending the citizen’s tax dollars. We must critique every dollar spent and make sure that we are serving the needs of the county. We must get solid leadership in the detention center. That is another area that I have unique experience. I previously served as a Captain and Major in the jail administration. I am intimately familiar with the problems that are being faced. Again I am the only candidate with that experience.
We must repair and rebuild the relationships with the other law enforcement and first responder agencies in our area.
We have to create an environment that people want to work and serve in. This is why there is a deficit in the number of deputies employed right now. Again that starts from the top.
Commitment to the deputies and employees and commitment to the citizens do not have to be two different things. We can do both with the proper leadership.

Final thoughts for the voter …

I have invested 30 plus years into gaining the training, experience and abilities to be your sheriff …. a sheriff for every citizen of Randolph County. The citizens and the deputies of Randolph County deserve a sheriff that is invested in them and the future.
One that is physically and mentally prepared to serve…that is me.

______________________________________________________

Name — Eric S. Hicks

CONTACT INFO FOR VOTERS

I believe a Sheriff should be accessible. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas, reach out.
Message me here directly on Facebook.
Email: Hicksfor2026@gmail.com
Phone: 336-688-8114 personal cell 

Your voice matters to me.

What in your background makes you a good candidate …

I have dedicated my career to public service and law enforcement. I have worked the road, answered calls, supervised teams, and seen firsthand what works and what fails inside a department. I understand the responsibility of protecting families, supporting deputies, and managing a jail safely and professionally.

Leadership is not about rank. It is about responsibility.
It is about making hard decisions and standing by them.
It is about earning trust, not demanding it. 
I bring fifteen years of law enforcement experience, where I advanced through education, specialized training, and leadership roles focused on constitutional policing, crisis response, supervision, and officer development. My background includes advanced training in search and seizure, interviews and interrogations, hostage negotiation, crisis intervention, narcotics investigations, at both the state and federal levels.

Experience matters. Integrity matters more.

Why you …

Because I am not running for a title. I am running to correct what is not working.

When hiring practices fail, when inmates are mistakenly released, when morale drops, when cases stack up, when patrol presence is thin, that is not something we explain away. That is something we fix.

Accountability starts at the top. And I am prepared to lead from the front.

Why now …

Because public safety is not a learning curve.

Our community deserves leadership that is proactive, transparent, and steady. Citizens should feel protected. Deputies should feel supported. Schools should feel secure. Families should not feel ignored.

When trust begins to erode, the time for change is now.

My goals …

Increase patrol presence throughout our communities.
Improve investigative follow-through so cases are closed.
Strengthen hiring standards and internal accountability.
Address jail safety and staffing issues immediately.
Protect our schools through proactive safety planning.
Go after the drug dealers who are poisoning our streets and destroying families.
Build a department culture rooted in integrity, professionalism, and transparency.

If we stop the dealers, we save lives.
If we support our deputies, we strengthen the department.
If we operate with accountability, we rebuild trust.

I am not here to play politics.
I am here to serve.

My final words …

All CITIZENS please know I do not have to be here and my commitment to Randolph County has no loyalty to the “Good ole Boys”!
My mission is to uphold and advance public safety through principled leadership, sound judgment, and accountability, while strengthening the communities I serve. I am committed to protecting people and property, developing responsible organizations, and applying experience gained in law enforcement, crisis response, and business leadership to promote safety, stability, and long-term trust within the community.

______________________________________________________

Name — Gregory J. Seabolt

CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER: 336-633-8046

What in your background makes you a good candidate …

I have been Sheriff for almost eight years, and during that time we have made significant improvements within the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. We have created numerous programs that serve the public and make a positive impact in our neighborhoods. These programs support school age children, and we also established our Elderly CALL Program where we reach out to seniors who do not have family in the area to check on them and ensure their well being.

We also started the Invictus Task Force, a proactive initiative that seeks out predators before they can harm our children. This task force includes three other Sheriff’s Offices as well as state and federal authorities working alongside us every day of the week. Since its inception, we have arrested over 200 individuals who showed interest in coming to our county to engage in sexual activity with a minor.

In addition, we have reduced property crimes by 23 percent and have continued our mission of removing deadly drugs from our county. I bring 38 years of law enforcement experience to this office, and I am never satisfied with results. I am always striving to improve and make Randolph County the safest county in the state.

Why you …

I have a proven track record of results, and no other candidate can make that claim. In eight short years, we have accomplished a tremendous amount and have consistently brought the concerns of our citizens to the forefront of our discussions and actions.

Why now …

We want to continue the success we have built in making Randolph County one of the best Sheriff’s Offices in the state. We have future goals we are determined to accomplish, including developing a rehabilitation program for those in our county who are battling addiction to deadly drugs.

Your goals …

My goal is to make our county safer each and every day. I want to serve the citizens in a way they have never been served before. A future objective is to establish a Christian based rehabilitation center here in Randolph County to help reduce the many overdoses we are seeing.

Final thoughts for the voter …

I ask voters to review my track record and consider the many accomplishments we have achieved in Randolph County over the past eight years. As I have said before, I will never be satisfied. I will continue working to reduce response times for citizens who need help as quickly as possible. My intention is to ensure the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office operates as a professional law enforcement agency that our citizens are proud of. We have made great strides, and we are not finished. We will continue to provide even better service to the people of Randolph County.

______________________________________________________

Name — Brian Arrington
 

Randolph County Commissioner Dist. 3

Name — David Allen

Name — Carrie Guess-Slatosky

NC House District 78

Name — Mark Dutton

CONTACT INFO FOR VOTERS

mark4nchouse.com 
markdutton4nchouse on Facebook and instagram 

What in your background makes you a good candidate …

I spent 30 years serving the citizens of North Carolina as a State Law Enforcement Officer with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission retiring at the position of Assistant Law Enforcement Director/Major of Administration and Support Services. I was also the State Boating Law Administrator working with federal and state agencies on maritime law enforcement laws and safety. I worked extensively with state and federal law makers on wildlife, fisheries and boating law. I managed the operations budget, federal grants, and emergency operations among many other responsibilities. 

Why you …

North Carolina native, locally raised, deep roots, 30 plus years of public service and civic service including coaching and mentoring youth. Public safety and state government experience, support law enforcement, first responders, teachers, veterans, health care professionals, state employees. 

Why now …

My mission and purpose has always been public service and after retiring I wanted to continue to serve my community and state. 

Your goals …

Protect our children in homes and in schools 
Protect health care workers 
Strengthen drug laws 
Protect local control 
No state overreach 
Safe communities 
Provide care for veterans 
Stronger background checks on people in positions of authority or influence over children 
Remove legislative barriers and antiquated legislation 
Be a representative for all constituents 
Economic growth 
Sustainable infrastructure 

Final thoughts for the voter …

I am the candidate that is deeply rooted in North Carolina, locally raised, and has the experience working in state government. 

I would be honored to be your representative.  

______________________________________________________

Name — Neal Jackson

NC District Court Judge Dist. 37 Seat 4 

Name — Chelsie Embler

Name — Geoffrey Crawford

Name — Jodi Allred

Name — Allison Layton