If he is selected to be sheriff, Warren Turner may surprise some people. 
    In an interview today, Turner said he supported checking the legal status of criminals detained by law enforcement. He also said he didn't understand the anger some people had toward current Sheriff Jim Pendergraph over a federal program run out of the county jail that checks inmates' legal status and refers many to federal immigration authorities for deportation.
      Turner, a Charlotte City Council member who works as a state probation officer, stopped short of pledging to fight to keep the controversial program that has won Pendergraph national kudos. Turner said he didn't know enough about how it works and would have to study it before he could comment on it.
    But he also said he believed that illegal immigration was hurting local government and the laws of the country should be enforced.
  "I support law enforcement having the right to find out their legal status," Turner said of criminals detained at the jail. "We do it every day in probation. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. I know it is making some people uncomfortable. If someone is doing something illegal, we should stop it."
    Turner said that if "the constitution of this country and the founding fathers of this country created these laws," then we have a responsibility to enforce them.
    "I don't know why they are taking shots at Pendergraph," Turner said. "I don't see what all the fuss is all about and what they are challenging him on."
    Turner made a last minute entry into the race yesterday and is vying against scandal-plagued lawyer Nick Mackey and acting sheriff Chip Bailey to finish out the three remaining years of the sheriff's term. The executive committee of the county Democratic Party is scheduled to choose one of the three men to be sheriff on Thursday.
    Turner said he had lunch with Pendergraph before the race started and learned that the sheriff intended to endorse Bailey. Because of that, Turner said he decided not to run. He said he got into the race when it became apparent that Bailey didn't have the votes to win because he doesn't think that Mackey is a good choice for sheriff.
    But Turner says he isn't sure he can win either given his late entry and the fact that Mackey is so far ahead in rounding up support.