Republican Sheriff Candidate Hires Campaign Consultant With Strong Ties To Democrats

Johnson County Republican Sheriff Candidate Randy Ackley hired, Brad Crone as his political consultant to advise his campaign. Crone has a long history of working on behalf of Democrats and on his website Crone touts his work for various statewide Democrats.

Last December, Ackley officially filed to challenge long-time Republican Sheriff Steve Bizzell. Ackley is a former detective with the Johnson County Sheriff’s office and says the county needs new leadership. Bizzell was first elected in 1998, was recently re-elected in 92% of all ballots cast in 2022. In 2020, Bizzell drew the ire of the Cooper administration when he declined to enforce Cooper’s mask mandate.

Here is the information compiled by the Blue Ridge Times to demonstrate the connection between Ackley and Crone.

Ackley’s campaign finance reports show his campaign spent $15,212 with a company called “Cumulus” mostly for website design and campaign consulting. The NC Secretary of State does have an LLC registration for a Cumulus LLC, through a law firm but that company was administratively dissolved. But the company listed on campaign finance reports does share an address with Crone’s firm in Raleigh.

Even more telling one of Ackley’s top donors which named Brad Crone as Ackley’s campaign consultant.

After this story was prepared, Crone confirmed that he was working for Ackley. Crone claims be an unaffiliated political consultant, but as previously noted the work he highlighted on his website highlights his long history helping North Carolina Democrats.