By Miles Layton

SWAN QUARTER — Odell Williams, an unaffiliated candidate for Hyde County sheriff, says a working life that began on a commercial fishing boat at age 9 and grew into a 21-year career in law enforcement has prepared him to lead the Sheriff’s Office.

Williams, 59, is challenging Sheriff Carl “Guire” Cahoon Jr., a Democrat seeking reelection. The election is Nov. 3.

Asked why he is running, Williams said he has a clear picture of what the office should be. “I believe our community deserves a Sheriff’s Office that is visible, accessible, accountable, transparent and committed to serving every citizen with fairness and respect,” he said. “I want to bring strong leadership, professionalism, and integrity to the office.”

Williams retired in 2022 after 10 years as a sergeant with the N.C. Marine Patrol, where he supervised eight officers and oversaw operations for the patrol vessel Roanoke. He also served as a field training officer and background investigator. He was named Marine Patrol Officer of the Year in 2021 and received the Old North State Award, the second-highest honor given to a North Carolina state employee, in 2022.

Asked why voters should choose him, Williams pointed to his character and his approach to the job. “I am honest, dependable, and have a great work ethic,” he said. “The Sheriff’s Office needs a fresh set of ideas that align with the concerns of our residents.”

Williams said his goal is to work with deputies and residents alike. 

“My goal is to work with our deputies and the people of the county to make our communities safer, strengthen communication and build trust between law enforcement and the citizens we serve,” he said.

Williams said he sees the job as service, not status. “I’m not running simply for a title,” he said. “I believe in public service, I care about the people of Hyde County, and I am willing to put in the work required to serve this community.”

Williams said his career path began well before he entered law enforcement. “But my work history goes back farther than just law enforcement,” he said. “At the age of just 9 years old, I started commercial fishing with my brother, Henry.”

He said his family’s ties to the industry run deep and taught him “the value of hard work and dedication.” But rising costs and tighter regulations made it clear that fishing alone would not support a family. He kept fishing part time. “But I had to look for a career that was more stable,” he said.

That search led him to Hyde Correctional Institution, where he worked six years. He rose from correctional officer to lead officer and was promoted to sergeant in 1998, overseeing eight road squad units and four community work crews.

Williams said he wanted a career on the water. He went back to school nights and weekends to earn his Basic Law Enforcement certification while working full time at the prison, and he began serving as an auxiliary deputy under Sheriff David Mason. To gain the experience required to become a Marine Patrol officer, he took a job in 2002 as chief deputy at the Hyde County Sheriff’s Office. Two years later, he was offered a Marine Patrol position. In 2012, he was promoted to sergeant.

If elected, Williams said his first priority would be the relationship between the department and the community. “I will work to strengthen the relationship between the Sheriff’s Office and the community,” he said. “I believe in being visible, accessible, and listening to the concerns of our residents.”

He said he would seek partnerships with schools, churches, businesses, emergency responders and community groups. “Public safety is about more than responding to crime,” Williams said. “It’s about preventing it, supporting our deputies with the training and resources they need, addressing drug-related issues, protecting our most vulnerable citizens ‘our children and seniors’ and making sure every family feels safe in their home, business, and neighborhood.”

On making the county safer, Williams said, “I am committed to common sense law enforcement.” He said he would put deputies to work in communities alongside him and would emphasize prevention. He said he would work with county commissioners and other leaders to provide 24-hour law enforcement. “I will work closely with the Superintendent of Hyde County Schools to ensure our children are safe and well cared for while they receive their education,” he said.

On technology, Williams said he wants body cameras, in-car cameras and vehicle telematics systems, which he said could lower insurance rates, monitor vehicle locations for safety and report vehicle information. “I would support body worn cameras and in-car technology where appropriate, with clear policies for their use, privacy, retention and public record requirements,” he said.

Williams also said he would manage public money carefully. He said he would be “frugal with taxpayer funding” and would continue to pursue grants “to lower the burden on the tax base.”

He said the job calls for more than enforcement. “A Sheriff should be a leader that listens to the people, is committed to serving this county with integrity, accountability, respect, transparency, focused on effective communication, effective training, strong partnerships with our communities and other agencies, as well as fair and consistent enforcement of the law,” Williams said.

“The Sheriff should be accessible to the people which he serves, listen to their concerns, work to address challenges facing our communities, and be accountable for the decisions made while in Office,” he said.

A lifelong Hyde County resident, Williams graduated from Mattamuskeet High School in 1985. “I have lived in Hyde County all my life and I am a proud alumnus of Mattamuskeet High School,” he said.

Asked what makes the county special, Williams pointed to its size and its people. “Hyde County is so special because of the small-town atmosphere,” he said. “It’s a community where everybody knows each other. We consider everyone neighbors even if they don’t live right down the road. The community steps up and helps each other.”

He said that spirit extends to Ocracoke. “When the weather begins to warm, our neighbors on the island of Ocracoke welcome people from around the world and work hard to provide for their families,” he said. He also cited the county’s hunting, fishing and tourism, “the best beach on the east coast, and some of the finest people in our country.”

“Hyde County is indeed a special place,” Williams said. “It’s home. I believe our best days are ahead of us.”

He and his wife, Viola Selby Williams, have been married 35 years. They have a son, Tyler, and a daughter, Mary Grace Williams Woolard, who is married to Douglas Woolard.

Williams said family comes first outside of work. “I love to spend time with my family,” he said. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite in New Bern and the Dare County Shrine Club, which hosts events and fundraisers for a children’s orphanage and a children’s hospital. He also helps with events at his church. “If there is a little time to fish and hunt, that time is welcomed as well,” he said.

Williams closed with a pledge if elected sheriff. 

“My promise is simple: I will work hard every day to earn your trust and to serve this county with honor.”