Iredell Sheriff Phil Redmond is the county’s most accomplished grassroots politician. There is little doubt he has shaken more hands, attended more barbecues, and knows more voters by name than any other local office holder.

Under Redmond’s leadership, the Sheriff’s office has done a much better than average job of solving crimes. The “clearance rate” is the percentage of reported crimes that result in an arrest. According to figures compiled by the State Bureau of Investigation, in 2004-2005 the Iredell Sheriff’s Department achieved a clearance rate of 84 percent for violent crimes, well above the statewide average of 53 percent. For property crimes, the Iredell Sheriff Department’s clearance rate was 43 percent, more than double the statewide average of 21 percent.

Redmond has been aggressive in using seized drug money and grants to pay for enhanced equipment for the department. He has been a supporter of Second Amendment rights.

In 1998 Redmond was elected to a second term by a wide margin, and was unopposed for re-election in 2002. At the close of the filing period for the primary elections last winter, it appeared that he would again be unopposed. But since that time an Unaffiliated candidate and two write-in candidates have come forth.

Statesville business owner Steve Benfield will be listed on the ballot as an Unaffiliated candidate. He is a former Redmond supporter who had a falling out with the Sheriff. In working for various candidates, Benfield has probably made and put up more campaign signs than anyone in Iredell county. It is a safe bet that he will cover the county with signs promoting his own candidacy.

Sonny Davis and Jerry Lipscombe have qualified as write-in candidates. They will not be listed on the ballot, but if their name is written in, the vote will be counted. Unlike Benfield, both write-ins have worked in law enforcement.

Davis is a retired detective who worked for a police department in Florida. He is apparently the unofficial Democrat candidate, as he is featured on the local party’s web site.

Lipscombe, an eight-year Iredell resident, has worked in various law enforcement and private security jobs.