Durham Sheriff Mike Andrews TROUNCED in election after posting "Amen" to a Racist Facebook Comment
Durham Sheriff Mike Andrews Denies Saying “Amen” to a Racist Facebook Comment
In that post, which circulated widely among politically active members of Durham’s Facebook community this morning, someone from Sheriff Mike Andrews’s re-election Facebook page appears to say “Amen, Bobby!” to a comment from a man warning people not to “apathetically sit home on your tails … as city block voters immigrants and minorities will FLOCK to the polls.” (In context, “block voters” could mean “black voters.”) He continues: “THEN the city special interests will vote out the old… and man … you won’t like the ethic takeover new.” (Again, in context, “ethic takeover” could mean “ethnic takeover.”)
Andrews—who has faced questions throughout this campaign about deaths in the county jail, his handling of the Confederate statue toppling, and his department’s cozy relationship with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement—faces Clarence Birkhead in today’s election. Birkhead has been endorsed by the INDY and the People’s Alliance.
Reached by phone via the number on his Facebook page, Bobby Cheatham told the INDY he doesn’t use Facebook much, then hung up. When the INDY called back, he said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” and said to stop calling him.
The post appears to have been deleted. Andrews did not respond to the INDY’s phone calls and an email seeking comment. Several people have posted similar screenshots of the comment thread on Andrews’s Facebook page and asked for an explanation, but so far none has been forthcoming.
https://www.indyweek.com/news/archives/2018/05/08/durham-sheriff-mike-andrews-denies-saying-amen-to-a-racist-facebook-comment
Birkhead trounces incumbent in race for Durham County sheriff
BY VIRGINIA BRIDGES
DURHAM
Challenger Clarence Birkhead took an early lead and kept it Tuesday night, putting himself on track to become Durham County's first black sheriff.
Some 31,344 people cast ballots, with Birkhead winning 69 percent of the votes to incumbent Sheriff Mike Andrews' 31 percent.
There are no Republicans running, so barring a successful write-in candidate in November, Tuesday's Democratic primary winner will become sheriff.
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