County Commissioner candidate Anita Daniels (right) said today that she has been endorsed by former Durham County Sheriff Worth Hill and incumbent Register of Deeds Willie Covington.

"I am honored to receive the support of two of Durham's most effective leaders who were elected by the citizens of Durham to serve multiple terms," Daniels said in a prepared statement.

Daniels has also been endorsed by the Friends of Durham, one of the county's three major political-action groups.

A social worker, Daniels applied to serve out the term of retired Commissioner Becky Heron in 2011. The four remaining commissioners instead chose Pam Karriker to take Heron's seat. Karriker is not running for election this year.
 

Here's a look at some of tomorrow's local headlines:

DSS CONSULTANT PAY: Correspondent Virginia Bridges digs into public records to uncover over $100,000 in money paid to consultants hired by former social services director Gerri Robinson. County officials have not provided all the documents we asked for; the total figure will be much higher.

NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN: As we reported in today's N&O (and tomorrow in The DN for non-daily readers), Chief Deputy Mike Andrews will become sheriff when Sheriff Worth Hill retires Jan. 1. Bridges was at the commissioners meeting last night to provide our report.

THE ROAD TO RECESSION: Maybe you saw my photos in the N&O online gallery. Tomorrow, read what drives some of the re-enactors out at Bennett Place State Historic Site.

The city says water service should be back this evening for those still disrupted by today's water main break. If you haven't voted in today's City Council and mayoral primary, you've got a half-hour left (until 7:30 p.m.) to narrow the field down for the Nov. 8 election.  Look for results in tomorrow's N&O and at newsobserver.com.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for all your recent letters. Do you want to get the word out for your favorite candidate? Have something else on your mind? Send us a letter to the editor at editor@nando.com.

Mark 

Two unsuccessful former candidates have joined the incumbent's anointed in the running to be Durham County's next sheriff.

Tony Butler (right) and Roy Taylor (below left) have submitted written statements of intent to the Durham County Board of Commissioners, along with Chief Deputy Mike Andrews. Retiring Sheriff Worth Hill named Andrews as his successor of choice when he announced his resignation last week.

Butler, a minister who is a former deputy sheriff and state patrol officer, has run against Hill four times, most recently in 2010.

Taylor, who owns a private security firm, ran in 2010.

Andrews (right) joined the sheriff's office in 1979 and was appointed major in charge of day-to-day operations in 1999. Hill appointed him chief deputy in 2008.

Like Hill, all three candidates are registered Democrats, though Taylor ran as a Republican last year.

State law empowers county commissioners to appoint a successor to serve out the term of a sheriff who leaves office. Hill's term runs until December 2014.

Anyone interested in the job has until 8:30 a.m. Monday to submit a written statement of interest to Michelle Parker-Evans, clerk to the Durham County Board of Commissioners.

Candidates are also expected to speak during the commissioners' Monday morning work session.

Hill announced last week that he is retiring after 17 years as sheriff at the end of this year, citing concern for his wife's health.

Sheriff Worth Hill said this morning he is retiring Jan. 1, due to concerns about the health of his wife, Mary.

"She's been looking after me for 53 years," said Hill (right); and "She's been been wanting me to come home."

Hill, 74, and county commissioners Chairman Michael Page are meeting this morning to discuss Hill's departure.

"I hate to do it," he said.

By state law, when a sheriff resigns the county commissioners appoint a successor.
Hill said he will recommend Chief Deputy Mike Andrews to take his place.

"Everything will run along well if they appoint my chief deputy," Hill said.

"Sheriff is not an easy job," said Page. "It's a job you have to come in prepared to do."

Hill said Andrews has 30 years' law enforcement experience and FBI training, and proven skill as a manager. He was named chief deputy in 2008.

"He's an outstanding person," said Hill.

Hill will be leaving just 14 months after his re-election to a fifth consecutive term as sheriff. A Durham native, he has worked for more than 45 years in law enforcement and retired from the Durham Police Force, as a major, in 1988.

He was first elected sheriff in 1994.

"I'm going to miss it, I'm going to miss my people," he said.

The N.C. Sheriff Police Alliance has endorsed Democratic incumbent Durham County Sheriff Worth Hill over Republican challenger Roy Taylor in this fall's election, along with a slate of other candidates in Durham County races.

Most incumbents up for reelection got the Alliance’s nods, though Republican challenger Jason Chambers was favored over incumbent Democrat Paul Luebke for state House District 30.

For Superior Court judges, the Alliance favors incumbent Jim Hartin and Elaine Bushfan, who is leaving her District Court seat to run for Superior Court. For District Court, endorsement went to Brian Aus.
 

Electing a sheriff for Durham County could end up in the county commissioners' hands.

Former sheriff Roland Leary has challenged Republican Roy Taylor's candidacy, claiming Taylor has not lived in Durham County long enough to qualify for election.

Taylor is running against incumbent Democrat Worth Hill in the Nov. 2 election, but the Board of Elections' hearing on the challenge won't be held until Nov. 11. That leaves open several scenarios, according to Elections Director Mike Ashe:

• If Hill wins the election, the hearing is cancelled and it's a moot point;
• If Taylor wins the election, the hearing is held and, if the elections board decides he is properly qualified, Taylor would be certified and become sheriff;
• If Taylor wins but the elections board decides he is not qualified, the office of sheriff becomes vacant and it would be up to the county commissioners to appoint or elect a sheriff. Their first scheduled meeting after the hearing date is Nov. 22.

Ironically, the last time Durham County commissioners had to pick a sheriff was when Leary retired mid-term in 1992 after 10 years in office. They chose Al Hight, a former Durham policeman and county commissioner, who served until Hill was elected in 1994.

Leary, a Democrat, has contributed $500 to Hill's re-election campaign, according to reports filed with the Board of Elections.

Leary and Taylor will be subpoenaed for the hearing, Ashe said; the board of elections meets several times before the election, and may subpoena other people and/or documents.

Taylor moved to Durham in 2000, but for several months in 2009 he resided in Wake County. State law requires a candidate for sheriff to have lived in the county where he or she is running for at least 12 months before the election.

That is the basis of Leary's challenge. Taylor, though, maintains that he is eligible because the state constitution requires only a 30-day residence for voting and provides that any qualified voter may run for office.

Last week, Taylor withdrew from the race due to the 12-month residency law, but changed his mind after consulting with attorneys. After deciding to remain in the race, he said he expected a legal challenge but was confident his eligibility would be affirmed.

For the first time this millennium, Democratic Sheriff Worth Hill could have Republican opposition in his bid for re-election.

Roy G. Taylor, owner of a private security firm called Capitol Area Police, announced his candidacy and filed to run in the Republican primary May 5. If successful, he will face the Democrats' nominee in the Nov. 2 general election.

Hill has been Durham County sheriff since 1994. He has won over several challengers from his own party, but has had no general-election opposition since Republican Al Hight in 1998.

In a written statement, Taylor called for "interagency collaboration ... combating crime, drugs, gang violence, and terrorism in Durham County. "One can't go to the people of Durham County and tell them everything is OK. It is not satisfactory to have gang violence, drug violence, person on person violence at the rates we have in our area."