Pernell, Hulon run for Dillon County Sheriff

Being the next sheriff of Dillon County is a life-long dream for one candidate. For the other, it’s a chance to continue to serve the county that’s the only home he’s ever known.

Whatever the reason given by each contender, Democratic candidate Major Hulon and petition candidate Douglas “Humbunny” Pernell are optimistic but unsure about the outcome of the November election.

Hulon came one step closer to his dream after he defeated incumbent Dillon Sheriff Harold Grice in the June primary. Grice had held the position for 21 years.

“This is something that’s been a dream of mine for many years,” Hulon said “I was born and raised in Dillon County. I love law enforcement.”
While he was grateful for the victory, Hulon said, he never intended to run against Grice. He said he had too much respect for the sheriff and his father had worked as one of Grice’s deputies for many years.

“I never wanted to oppose him,” Hulon said. “I wanted to wait until he retired.”

Grice originally told people he would retire and not seek re-election, Hulon said.

At that point Hulon, Pernell and others made plans to run for the position, he said.

“But then Sheriff Grice decided not to retire and so the other guys pulled out,” Hulon said. “But I had been politicking for five or six months and I’d told everybody I was going to be a candidate. I just didn’t feel like I could back out at that time. I’d given my word and said I wouldn’t (pull out of the race), but I had no idea he would change his mind.”

Hulon said he also had no idea Pernell would run against him.

“My main reason (for running) is that I love to serve and protect. I believe my knowledge and law enforcement experience makes me the best candidate,” Pernell said. “I worked so hard to bring the county to what it is today, I do not want to see it go back.”

Hulon doesn’t have the right experience to be sheriff, Pernell said.

“My opponent has no experience in criminal justice. Some people may consider being a game warden criminal justice experience,” Pernell said. “A game warden sits around a pond and waits for you ... and sees how many fish you have.”

Officers with the state Department of Natural Resources have state commission to enforce all state laws and have gone through much of the same extensive training sheriff’s deputies and police complete, Hulon said. Natural resource officers also have a federal commission to enforce federal laws across state boundaries, he said.

Hulon said Pernell and the other sheriff’s deputies are doing an excellent job in trying to meet the expectations of the community, but there is a definite need for change and fresh, new ideas within the sheriff’s office.

Law enforcement officers should be open to suggestions and be ready to hear what residents have to say, Hulon said.

“It’s about some new positive, new ideas to add to what we already have and to move forward and to make things better,” he said. “All of us can always improve. I can improve, I want to do better each day and I can always do more.”

What does the sheriff’s office need?

Hulon: “I think we need to look at how we work our shifts, how we spend our time and how we can do a better job. I’ve talked about some substations throughout our county that officers can work out of. (It will) help them stay in certain areas. The citizens are very interested in that.”

Pernell: “We need more personnel because of the rising crime. You have more people in the county and you need more people to control these areas. We have 28 (deputies) but the county has allotted us 33. Some might say that’s a lot, but we have 407 square miles to cover.”

What do you plan to accomplish in four years as sheriff?

Hulon: “My No. 1 priority is to work as hard as I can to fight against illegal drugs. Everywhere I go in my community, people are very concerned about that. I hope in four years people can say we have less of a problem than when we started. That’s my hope and my desire. I’m not Superman and I can’t do wonders but I’ll do my very best to fight that. We cannot give up the battle. It’s about our kids, our grandkids and it’s about the future (of) our people.”

Pernell: “The No. 1 goal is to make sure senior citizens are safe. I have a plan for that and it’s called, ‘Are you OK?’ I can’t have people out here preying on senior citizens. It touches me deep in my heart to see a 70- or 80-year-old person killed over $20.”

What makes you the best candidate?

Hulon: “I bring with me some new ideas, I bring new leadership. I’m ready for some changes and I think we have some good ideas. I have the tools and the knowledge that it takes to be a good leader. The qualities and the principles it takes to be a genuine and successful leader — I’ve worked hard on those over the years. I think that I can take my management skills and my leadership skills that I’ve gained as a DNR officer and be very successful as the Dillon County sheriff.”

Pernell: “As a deputy sheriff, I have been effective in working with outside federal and state law enforcement agencies ... working directly with these agencies has helped me to expand my knowledge base of criminal law and my career in law enforcement. I also plan to mobilize and allocate resources and services to step up the current fight against street drugs and gang violence.”

Candidate Bios
Major Hulon
Age: 56
Hometown: Dillon
Family: A son and a daughter
Party: Democrat
Experience: Worked for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources for 22 years as a game warden; project coordinator for the Northeastern Technical College continuing
education program

Douglas B. “Humbunny” Pernell
Age: 47
Family: Wife, Cynthia McAllister Pernell; two sons
Hometown: Dillon
Party: Petition candidate
Experience: Started career in 1984 at Lake View Police Department; joined Mullins Police Department in 1985; joined Dillon County Sheriff’s Office in 1986 and serves as chief deputy