A Man of Faith, Integrity, and Principles

Kenneth Blackwell, Jr. was born on September 7, 1962,  He grew up in the Fowler’s Crossroads community outside of Rolesville.




For the majority of his adult life, Kenneth has served in law enforcement.

Kenny Blackwell for Wake County Sheriff

In 1982, while on a youth trip with Bethany Baptist Church, he met Deborah Fuller in Southport. They married six months later and built a life together, raising two daughters, Amanda and Wendy, and later welcoming two grandchildren, Ryan and Bailey. Deborah courageously battled cancer until her passing in January 2021, after 38 years of marriage.

During this difficult time, a former classmate, Cheryl Parrish, reached out to offer comfort and encouragement. Her faith, compassion, and friendship brought healing and hope. The two later married in November 2022.

Kenny Blackwell grew up in the Fowler’s Crossroads community outside Rolesville. He married Cheryl Parrish in November 2022. He has two daughters and two grandchildren.

Kenny Blackwell grew up in the Fowler’s Crossroads community outside Rolesville. He married his wife, Cheryl, in November 2022. He has two daughters and two grandchildren.

For the majority of his adult life, Kenneth has served in law enforcement. His career includes roles as a Wake County Deputy, a U.S. Marshal, and currently an Investigator with State Capitol Police. Dedicated to serving others, he has always sought to make communities safer and stronger.

Kenny currently works as an investigator with State Capitol Police. He previously worked as a Wake County deputy and a U.S. Marshal.

After much prayer, pastoral counsel, and family support, Kenneth has made the decision to run for Wake County Sheriff. His commitment is to lead with integrity, remain visible and accessible to both citizens and employees, and ensure the Sheriff’s Office operates with transparency and accountability.

Kenny is running for Wake County sheriff.

2026 North Carolina General Election

A cornerstone of Blackwell's campaign is restructuring the sheriff's office leadership. He argues the agency has become too "top heavy," saying administrative positions should be evaluated so more deputies can be assigned to answer calls and reduce response times. He also wants supervisors to regularly respond to calls for service alongside frontline deputies.

Rowe and Blackwell Outline Competing Visions for Wake County Sheriff

He called fentanyl one of Wake County's most pressing public safety concerns and said investigators need additional personnel to pursue suppliers rather than simply making street-level arrests. Blackwell also pledged to establish a regional human trafficking task force, strengthen partnerships with municipal police departments and encourage deputies to spend more time interacting with residents at parks, sporting events and community gatherings.

Blackwell also pledged to establish a regional human trafficking task force, strengthen partnerships with municipal police departments and encourage deputies to spend more time interacting with residents at parks, sporting events and community gatherings. "I want them to get out of the car," he said. "People need to see us. They need to know we're not sitting somewhere. I want them to be engaged with the public."

Calls for evaluating administrative positions to assign more deputies to calls and reduce response times.

Wants supervisors to regularly respond to calls alongside frontline deputies.

Pledges to strengthen partnerships with municipal police departments.

Wants deputies to engage with residents at community events.

Wants to increase salaries and expand mental health services for officers.

- Calls for evaluating administrative positions to assign more deputies to calls and reduce response times.
- Wants supervisors to regularly respond to calls alongside frontline deputies.
- Pledges to strengthen partnerships with municipal police departments.
- Wants deputies to engage with residents at community events.
- Wants to increase salaries and expand mental health services for officers.

Public Safety

As of July 31, 2026, Kenny Blackwell’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Jail Management

Blackwell said another immediate priority would be rebuilding the sheriff's office drug unit, which he believes has been reduced too dramatically over the past several years. "The only promise I've made in this campaign is I'm going to come to work," Blackwell said. "If I'm blessed enough to win this campaign, we are going to increase that drug unit back to where it should be."

Plans to expand the drug unit and add investigators to pursue fentanyl suppliers rather than only street-level arrests.

Pledges to establish a regional human trafficking task force.

- Plans to expand the drug unit and add investigators to pursue fentanyl suppliers rather than only street-level arrests.
- Pledges to establish a regional human trafficking task force.

Criminal Justice

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Kenny Blackwell

Buket Urgen

Willie Rowe

- The sheriff is responsible for enforcing the law, managing security in jails and courtrooms. They also oversee daily conditions of the jail and inmates in custody and serve legal documents such as warrants and eviction notices. Their ultimate responsibility is to protect the community. 

Responsible for enforcing the law and overseeing jails. 