Rebuttal to the Statement by Sheriff Wilborn
Published on 2026-Jan-22 in the Courier-Times (C-T) on page 8A, regarding the Person County GOP Candidates’ Forum on January 20th, the C-T asserts Sheriff Wilborn said "he was not formally invited." In rebuttal to the statement attributed to Sheriff Wilborn, we would like the voters to know the PCGOP1 Candidate Committee provided at least three weeks notice to each Republican candidate in the 2026 Primary Election. The Candidate Committee provided a written email invitation on January 3rd to each of the eight GOP candidates, and on January 9th a telephone invitation was made to each (including Sheriff Wilborn). On January 9th Sheriff Wilborn hung up on Ms. Korn (one of our committee members), and did not respond to any of her other invitation attempts.
The purpose of the PCGOP1 Candidates Forum was to offer county voters an opportunity to meet these eight candidates, to hear the issues, and to learn more about the county. Also, we were offering an opportunity to each candidate for sharing their campaign platform. Candidates Todd Dunn and Earl Brooks said they would attend, and did attend. Candidates Frank Stoltmann and Derrick Sims said they would attend, but cancelled on the day of the event (without giving any reason). Candidate John Byrd had a longstanding and previously scheduled commitment, and he gave us an article to be issued to the attendees. Candidate Donald Long became ill on the day of the forum. Ms. Korn diligently reminded Sheriff Wilborn, and all other candidates, of the event 2-3 days before it took place.
Sheriff Wiborn provided the Courier-Times with inaccurate information. We request that the Courier Times carefully check their articles for accuracy, before publishing them – including the statements provided by elected officials.
We thank those candidates who were present at the Forum: sheriff candidate Todd Dunn; and commissioner candidate Earl Brooks. They were each well-received by the Person County residents which attended.
[1] PCGOP is the Person County GOP, also known as the Person County Republican Party.