Durham Sheriff: Andrews coasts for first full term

Incomplete returns showed incumbent Sheriff Mike Andrews running a substantial lead in an election to keep his job Tuesday night.

With 61 of 63 precincts reporting in the Democratic primary, Andrews had 13,304 votes, while former Hillsborough Police Chief Clarence Birkhead trailed with 9,125 votes and retired sheriff’s Maj. Richard Buchanan with 1,209.

Tuesday’s winner is the Democratic nominee in the Nov. 6 general election. No other political party fielded a candidate.

Andrews was appointed sheriff when Worth Hill retired from the office early, in 2011.

This story was originally published May 6, 2014 at 9:54 PM with the headline "Durham Sheriff: Andrews coasts for first full term."