Sheriff Misses His Cowboy Boots

Wake County Sheriff John Baker, hospitalized since Tuesday for a flare-up of gout, went home Friday. He answered the phone, gruff but upbeat, and revealed that his most pressing problem in the coming days will be what to wear.

Baker, a former professional football player and the state’s longest-serving sheriff, is a man of habit. Every day, he slips on blue or black suits to wear to work. Black cowboy boots complete the ensemble.

But in deference to a flare-up in his big toe, the result of an old football injury, his doctor has relegated those cowboy boots to the closet. Apparently they pinched his toe, aggravating his condition.

“I’ve got to figure out something else I can wear,” Baker grumbled Friday.

One probability is a custom-made pair of new boots, albeit with a wider toe. Unfortunately for Baker’s stylish sensibilities, they probably won’t be ready by the time he returns to work toward the middle of next week.

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Political Scorecard

Elting out in E: Former Raleigh City Council member Geoff Elting has decided not to run for west and northwest Raleigh’s District E council seat, which will be open because Marc Scruggs Jr. is not seeking re-election. Elting, who noted his interest in running earlier this summer, said he decided it wasn’t the right time.

“There are all sorts of factors that go into this decision,” said Elting, who used to represent North Raleigh’s District A, though he wouldn’t elaborate on those reasons. Lawyer Philip Isley, who filed earlier this week, is currently the only candidate in that district.

Meeker online: The campaign Web site of Raleigh mayoral candidate Charles Meeker is up. It includes his background (eight years on the City Council, lawyer focusing on local government

issues) and main issues (better development, solving traffic congestion), and ways to get in touch with the campaign. It can be seen at www.charlesmeeker.com

More Wake filings: More candidates filed this week to run in Wake municipal races Nov. 6. In Fuquay-Varina, John W. Byrne of 333 S. Main St. is running for mayor. In Garner, Bob Fox of 615 Benfield Court is running for alderman. In Knightdale, Keith D. Gibbs of 1001 Laurens Way is running for council.

In Morrisville, Mayor Gordon Cromwell of 110 Holly Creek Road is seeking re-election; incumbent Jan Faulkner of 137 Waltons Creek Road is running for an at-large commissioner seat; Morton “Morty” Berkowitz of 410 Misty Groves Circle is seeking that same at-large seat; and Margaret E. Broadwell of 109 Stella Court and Thayne N. Conrad of 201 Keybridge Drive are seeking the District 2 commissioner seat. In Rolesville, Ronnie Currin of 304 Teresa Drive is running for commissioner. In Wake Forest, town Commissioner Boyce Medlin of 329 Woodland Ave. is running for mayor.

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Political Trail

– Jerry Agar, a talk show host on WPTF (680 AM), is scheduled to speak about the state budget situation at a picnic sponsored by N.C. Citizens for a Sound Economy from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Shelter No. 4 at Pullen Park off Western Boulevard in Raleigh.