After four decades of service to the community, longtime Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson recently stepped into a new role as a county commissioner.
His first meeting took place on July 27 after officially being sworn in the week prior during a small ceremony. Chatham native Roberson has served as the county’s sheriff since 2016, and his other former roles for the community include paramedic, detention administrator and chief deputy.
“This is just another chapter of different ways that I can help people,” Roberson told 97.9 The Hill on representing District 3.
After former county commissioner David Delaney ended his four-year term early in May, Roberson accepted the county’s appointment for an abbreviated term to fill the empty seat, having already won March’s Democratic primary election for the role. He will formally run unopposed for the four-year position in November.
Mike Roberson and his wife, Annette. (Photo via Mike Roberson on Facebook.)
Roberson shared how the transition brought mixed emotions. While ready to graduate from the “24-hour” job of being the sheriff, he said he still felt called to serve Chatham.
“I grew up here, and I really want to protect what we have,” the former sheriff said. “I think the lake, the streams, the good schools, the beautiful community we have is worth protecting. I also know that growth is coming and we can’t stop it all. People have property rights. I think in some way there’s going to be a balancing act between [that growth] and [guiding it] in a way that benefits more people.”
While holding the District 3 seat, he said he was voted into the position by the community as a whole and looks forward to representing everyone in Chatham. In his future work as a commissioner, Roberson said he wants to help better explain the “why” behind board decisions and limitations. For example, he said residents can be largely opposed to new development, but those projects can be difficult to stop if they meet the county’s requirements.
“Two of those incidents happened on Monday where I didn’t really like either choice, but I had to make the better choice of the two choices that we probably didn’t like,” Roberson said regarding his first meeting as a county commissioner. “I’m going to do the fair thing, I’m going to do the right thing. I don’t think I can make everyone happy, but that’s not my goal. I’d like for everyone to be happy, but I’m just going to do the right thing for Chatham County in the long run.”
An honorary ceremony marking his retirement as sheriff took place on July 15 and included a crowd of family, friends, current and former colleagues, elected officials, community leaders. There, Roberson was honored with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor recognizing individuals whose service and character have gone above and beyond for their communities.
Mike Roberson formally retired as Chatham County Sheriff on July 15 during a ceremony at Northwood High School. (Image via Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.)
In addition to his service in Chatham County, he served as President of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association in 2024 and Chairman in 2025, represented sheriffs on numerous statewide committees, and was selected to the fifth cohort of the North Carolina Hunt State Policy Fellows.
“A servant leader puts himself last,” Assistant Superintendent of Chatham County Schools Chris Blice said at the ceremony. “He puts the people that he works with and the people that he serves ahead of himself 24/7. That is exactly what Sheriff Roberson has been for us. He’s been a leader here and he’s been a leader on the state level. He has made a difference in everything he’s done and for the right reasons.”
Although retired, Roberson was back among the sheriff’s office staff and community a few days later — as people reconvened for the swearing-in ceremony of Steve Maynor to serve as Chatham County’s sheriff. Maynor will serve as the interim successor to Roberson through at least early December and is running for election to a full term in the office.
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