Bladen County elects new sheriff as Benston loses race

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Voters elected a new sheriff in Bladen County Tuesday.

The county’s first black sheriff tried but did not succeed getting a second term in office. Prentis Benston, the incumbent Democrat, lost to his Republican challenger Jim McVicker 52-48.

Sheriff-elect McVicker has more than 40 years in law enforcement. He retired from the Highway Patrol in 2002 and is currently a detective at the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.