CHATHAM SHERIFF WILL RUN FOR OFFICE

PITTSBORO - Chatham County Sheriff Ike Gray announced at a news conference
Thursday morning that he plans to run for election this year. Gray was
appointed to the position in December 2000 when Don Whitt retired.

Gray and his office were heavily criticized after someone stole about 3,000
pounds of marijuana evidence from behind the department and unearthed 2,000
pounds from the county landfill in September 2000.

Also, Gray has a lawsuit pending against him by a former deputy who claims
he was wrongfully terminated.

Gray is one of at least six men who have declared their intent to run for
sheriff. Filing to run for office begins at noon Feb. 18 and ends at noon
March 1. The start of the filing period was delayed because of redistricting.

If elected, Gray said he wants to increase the department's patrol,
narcotics and investigation officers, and create a breaking and entering
task force.

"I'm committed to running this office as effectively as I can," he said.
"One of my goals is to get a good public trust in this department."

Flanked by his attorney, Gray fielded -- and often declined to comment on
- -- questions about the lawsuit and missing marijuana.

"The FBI is still doing an ongoing investigation," Gray said about the drug
theft. "They anticipate some closure in the near future on at least part of
it [the landfill]."