It’s second primary day for the Orange County Sheriff race between Charles Blackwood and David Caldwell. The polls at all 44 precincts are open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.
Both candidates are veterans of the Sheriff’s Department. Back in May, Blackwood garnered the most votes, winning 30 percent in a six-way Democratic primary. But 40 percent is the magic number that would have prevented a runoff.
Caldwell, the second-place finisher, was just 58 votes behind, so he called for the runoff that takes place today.
Seven days of early voting at the Orange County Board of Elections office in Hillsborough ended Saturday, with 1,519 voters casting ballots.
There are no Republicans running, so the winner of today’s contest will be the successor to Sheriff Lindy Pendergrass, who’s retiring after 32 years on the job.
Blackwood, who was endorsed by Pendergrass, outraised Caldwell nearly five-to-one in campaign receipts that included $5,852 of his own money.
According to a report filed July 10th with the Orange County Board of Elections, Blackwood raised nearly $44,000 during this election cycle, and more than $9,000 was raised in the second quarter between late April and late June.
Blackwood’s campaign spent nearly $38,000, and had more than $6,000 left in the bank.
The Caldwell campaign raised $9,222 during this election cycle, according to a campaign report filed Monday, four days after the due date. Nearly 61 percent of that was raised during the second quarter.
Caldwell reported a total of $3,580 in outstanding loans to his campaign from himself and members of his family. His campaign spent $8,900, and had $777 cash on hand at the end of the reporting period.
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