BELEAGURED CHATHAM SHERIFF TO SEEK ELECTION

PITTSBORO -- Attorney by his side, Chatham County Sheriff Ike Gray formally
announced his candidacy for office and responded for the first time to a
lawsuit against him.

"I'm just here to let everybody know that I would be on the ballot in the
primary," Gray told several reporters gathered Thursday morning at the
Sheriff's Office.

Gray said he made the decision to run about a month ago, shortly after
Christmas.

Earlier in December, Gray told The Chapel Hill Herald he would not run for
office, saying, "I will not be on the ballot in 2002."

Gray said public support was the deciding factor in his decision to run. He
said he began his career in Chatham 24 years ago and wants to end his
career in retirement here.

Gray said he didn't want to sound "wishy-washy" about the decision but
wanted to make sure in his mind he was committed to go forward.

He was appointed sheriff in December 2000 after former Sheriff Don Whitt
retired because of health reasons. Since then, Gray has received much
criticism over the case of 5,000 pounds of missing marijuana.

"We have nothing to hide, and it will all come out in due time," Gray said.

Whitt was at the department's helm when the two marijuana thefts occurred
- -- one from a truck on the department grounds, where the marijuana was
being stored, and the other from the Chatham County landfill, where the
remaining marijuana was buried.

Gray said he has provided 100 percent cooperation with the FBI since he
took over as sheriff. The FBI has been investigating the two thefts since
last January.

While the events of Sept. 11 slowed the FBI's investigation, Gray
"anticipates some closure in the near future," he said. Gray said he's been
led to believe there would be five to six people receiving federal indictments.

"They have indicated very strongly that it will not be anybody in this
department," Gray said.

FBI officials handling the case could not be reached for comment.

A wrongful termination lawsuit also has plagued Gray in his first year as
sheriff.

In February, Dan Phillips, a former Chatham County deputy, sued Gray,
saying he was wrongly discharged from his position as sergeant last Jan. 18
because he tried to bring attention to acts of racism at Central Chatham
High School.

Gray's attorney, Christopher Jones, called the lawsuit "meritless."

In December, a motion filed by Phillips' attorney, Al McSurely, asked a
judge to order Gray and Chief Deputy Randy Keck to answer questions about
the 5,000 pounds of missing marijuana they refused to answer during their
depositions.

The motion to compel marked the first time in public court papers that
McSurely raised the issue of the missing marijuana in regards to Phillip's
termination.

Jones said Gray and he determined that Gray would not answer questions
about the missing marijuana.

"There were questions asked in that deposition we strongly believed
answering would impede that investigation," Jones said.

Jones said questions about the missing marijuana are irrelevant to the
Phillips case.

On Feb. 4, a judge will hear whether the two issues -- the missing
marijuana and the school racism -- can be joined into one complaint.

If the two are joined and the motion to compel testimony is granted by the
judge, Gray would comply and answer questions, Jones said.

Jones believes the lawsuit and marijuana investigation should be kept
separate. He said his client and he are "extremely anxious" for what they
consider to be "politically motivated rhetoric" to stop appearing in the
press and for the truth to come out.

Neither Gray nor Jones would specify how much of Gray's time is occupied by
the lawsuit.

When asked what toll the lawsuit has taken on him personally, Gray said he
tries to follow the advice of his attorney: " 'You are the sheriff. We will
handle the lawsuit. You need to do your job.' And that's what I've done,"
Gray said.

Gray, however, admitted the lingering lawsuit has not been easy to deal with.

"It has been a distraction somewhat, but I realize my job is to run this
department and I have done that. . This department has to function, and
we're going to do that to the best of our ability."

Gray said his staff's morale has probably been affected by the case of the
missing marijuana and Phillips' lawsuit. He said he's held several staff
meetings to tell his deputies they do their jobs well. Gray said he sees
morale improving because an end is in sight.

"The deputies want closure to this as well as myself," Gray said.

Gray said one goal is to gain public trust in the department by showing the
department is there to protect Chatham's citizens. Gray said he thinks the
majority of the public still believes in the department based on their
ability to still function and respond to calls.

"The public realizes we're here, and we can be trusted," Gray said.

Gray said he thinks the department will come out of the FBI investigation
in a good light.

As for other goals for the department, Gray said he would like to get more
officers in the narcotics and investigation divisions. He also said he
would like better training and more officers on patrol to increase
visibility throughout the county.

He said the county recently received a grant for two new School Resource
Officers at middle schools in Pittsboro and Siler City.

Five other people -- N.C. Highway Patrol Officer Randy Knight, Chatham
County Commissioner Rick Givens, Pittsboro Police Department patrol Sgt.
Richard H. Webster, Siler City Police Detective Jimmy Bowden and former
Chatham deputy Darden Jarman -- have announced plans to run.

"I intend to run," Gray said. "I intend to run a clean campaign. I hope
they do the same."

Gray hopes to emerge the winner in his first election.

"I have 24 years of experience, and I know I'm capable of doing the job."