The voice of the North Wilkes Vikings and retired Wilkes Sheriff’s Officer announced on his social media page this week that he is running for sheriff. Wednesday afternoon, William “David” Carson officially announced his candidacy for Wilkes County Sheriff in the 2026 election. Carson served in the Wilkes Sheriff’s Office for 30 years. He retired in 2020. Carson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Lees-McRae College, has served as a firefighter and first responder in Wilkes, and has served with civic, volunteer, and youth sports organizations.