Soles will challenge Greene for Sheriff after primary victory

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     Former Columbus County Sheriff’s officer Jason Soles bested another former deputy, Victor Jacobs, in the Democratic Primary vote Tuesday, earning the right to challenge their former boss and incumbent Sheriff Jody Greene on the November general election ballot.

     Though turnout was light, at less than 16 percent of eligible voters casting ballots, the counting was slow Tuesday with the county’s Board of Elections waiting until all but one precinct had reported, posting the unofficial results to the NC Board of Elections website after 10 p.m.

     Voting from the final precinct, Nakina, was not posted until nearly 11:30 p.m.

     All votes are unofficial until the county board holds its canvas next week.

     Soles took 63.45 percent of the vote, besting Jacobs 2,130 to 1,227, the unofficial totals showed.

‘Clean campaign’

     It’s been a really clean campaign,” Soles said late Tuesday. “Today we were feeding Victor’s poll workers, he was looking out for my poll workers. It was a good, clean campaign, I can’t thank him enough.”

     Soles said Jacobs called and conceded the election after 10 p.m., and pledged his support for the general election.

     “We’re friends,” Soles said. “I hired him, he was one of my investigators. He was a good investigator.”

     Soles said the campaign “gave me the opportunity to meet some of the nicest, most wonderful people in this county. I love listening to their concerns. Hopefully we can win in November and put those concerns into action.”

     Soles said the COVID-19 pandemic has limited some of his personal campaign events, and that he’s hopeful more in-person campaign events with groups will be possible heading into November.

     Look for more on Tuesday’s primary elections in today’s Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.