Political Driven Attacks on Family Members of Anyone Running For Office is Dishonorable and Disgraceful

Haywood County Sheriff - Bill Wilke and His Family During Happier Times

The following was posted on Facebook by Sheriff Bill Wilke and I believe that his story must be shared to all Haywood County residents. Like many of us in this day and age, Sheriff Bill Wilke and his family are dealing with a family issue that is both heart breaking and painful.

If any person within our county has an issued with the methods, effectiveness, efficiency, or outcomes of the County's Sheriff department under Sheriff Bill Wilke, then debate those concerns. No one has the moral right to attack an opponents family for the purpose of gaining a political advantage. No One!

Bill Wilke

3h ·

Bill's Post

The post I am sharing is a tough one for us. It’s deeply personal but has to be said.

Two of our children have requested, at various times, that they not be considered family, and we have honored their wishes. One has chosen a lifestyle of transgender activism in California and has denied any contact until someone calling themself our “daughter in law” made some allegations on social media in a direct attack on our family.

Following that attack, the second daughter made an attack on our family, who was recently denied custody of her son for reasons I have tried to shield him from. Unfortunately, at the age of nine, he has been dragged into a social media political attack by his own mother. I will not share further family details to prevent further embarrassment for him. It’s just not right.

As we approach a primary election season, opposing political forces, including those who have and are currently seeking to occupy various positions in the office of Sheriff, have shared these posts and/or made supporting comments in an attempt to dissuade me from continuing to seek office.

You can expect the exact opposite.

I am pursuing, more fervently than ever, to be re elected to the office of Sheriff. I will work every day to ensure that no one willing to go to such lengths for power will ever have the ability to publicly or privately bully any family for their own personal gain. I will always stand for truth, justice, and doing the right thing regardless of the cost to myself.

I love and pray for all of my children regardless of their choices. Their choices, however, are just that.

As for the opponents of good order and a well run Sheriff’s Office, I look forward to debating you publicly… not on social media, but in person in front of our constituents… on the real challenges facing our county.