#ncga: Is primary challenge to Boles being powered by the Po-Po?
It’s not clear whether we’re talking about a small minority of Moore County law enforcement officers or a significant chunk. But it is pretty clear that some active and retired lawmen in the county are awfully excited about Southern Pines police chief Bob Temme’s primary challenge to incumbent state Rep. Jamie Boles (R).
(It’s hard to miss the Temme campaign sign in front of the Moore County Law Enforcement Officers Association clubhouse. )
Jamie Boles has become widely respected across Moore County for his work as a funeral director at his chain of funeral homes across the area.
Boles was first elected to Jones Street in 2008 by defeating a Republican incumbent. He has faced stiff Republican primary challenges — basically the general election in Moore County politics — during his last two go-arounds. During his time in office, Boles has been quite loyal to Speaker Tim Moore and Rules Committee Chairman David Lewis. For his loyalty, Boles has been rewarded with posts such as “Senior chairman” of the Justice and Public Safety Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.
With a role like that, one would think the lawman vote would be a cinch for Boles. But I am hearing about some sort of policy disagreement / broken promise brouhaha that has led to this sticky political situation.
The primary will take place in March 2020. The winner gets to face off against Democrat Lowell Simon.
While discussing pay increases for state law enforcement agencies (House Bills 126, 777 and 609), when your local representative stands in the community room of the Southern Pines Police Department and proclaims he does not care about salaries, recruitment and retention for local municipal law enforcement agencies, and as a state representative he only cares about state law enforcement agencies, is there any surprise who the local law enforcement community is supporting? State law enforcement agencies do not have traditional “communities” to serve, unlike local law enforcement agencies. In law enforcement and politics, communities matter. The police are the community and the community are the police. Local law enforcement community interaction is where the rubber meets the road in public service. When you don’t care about local law enforcement, in essence you do not care about the community they serve. Our community will not be swayed when our otherwise absent representative shows up weeks before an election handing out “Koozies” to keep cold the Boles Kool Aid he is once again asking them to drink.
The Temme crowd is spreading a bunch of BS about Representative Boles. No one in the legislature has done more for law enforcement than Jamie. The Samarcand police training facility in Moore County is a prime example. As the lead budget writer for justice and public safety, Jamie has directed millions to help ND law endorsement. Groups such as the Fraternal Order of Police and the NC Police Chiefs don’t support Temme and his candidacy.