(The Center Square) – Nothing quite like an independent report to quell the noise during an election year in North Carolina.
Rowan County Sheriff Travis Allen, in a four-candidate primary field for Republicans on Super Tuesday, on Wednesday got welcome news from first-term Republican state Auditor Dave Boliek. The auditor’s office announced findings and closure from a case started from its tipline, finding no evidence to support accusations of wrongdoing with taxpayers’ money regarding a patrol vehicle, purchase card, vehicle purchases, uniforms, horses or 911 Center embezzlement.
“Based on OSA’s review,” the report concludes, “it appears that each of the allegations are unsubstantiated.”
In response, Allen wrote in the report, “It has always been my desire as sheriff to be trustworthy, honest and dependable. I hold myself and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office to very high standards. We operate on the tax dollars of our citizens, and we should be held accountable for the way we use their money. This report shows that we are doing exactly that.”
Early voting has started for the primaries on March 3. Allen, a Salisbury resident, is challenged by China Grove’s Tim Harrington and Jody Burleyson, and Salisbury’s Carl Dangerfield. The winner has no challenger awaiting on Nov. 3.
On social media after release of the report, Allen said, “For the last year every candidate running against me has stood up at one campaign event after another telling bold face lies concerning me wasting your county tax dollars. Social media, keyboard warriors have joined in spewing one false story after another. We have defeated every one of them with facts and transparency.”
In 2022, Allen defeated Democrat Carlton Killian 71.9%-28.1% in an election drawing more than 47,500 voters. The lawman with more than two decades experience grabbed 32.8% of the primary vote that year – 15,550 voted – to outdistance Mike Caskey (22.2%), Tommie Cato (16.7%), Greg Hannold (15.7%), Brad Potts (9.8%) and Jack Eller (2.8%).
