Eric Southerland

Eric is from Warsaw, North Carolina. He attended James Sprunt Community College.

Eric is a law enforcement instructor. He works at James Sprunt College, where he teaches in the basic law enforcement program and achieved a 100% pass rate this semester. He previously worked at the Duplin County Sheriffs Office for nearly 30 years and served as Chief of the Warsaw Police Department.

Eric Southerland's campaign for Duplin County Sheriff.

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Eric is a law enforcement instructor. He works at James Sprunt Community College, where he teaches the basic law enforcement program. He previously worked at the Duplin County Sheriff's Office and served as Chief of Warsaw.

Eric Southerland is from Duplin County, North Carolina. He has worked as a sheriff's deputy for nearly 20 years and previously served as Chief of Warsaw.

Eric is a law enforcement officer. He has been a deputy with the Duplin County Sheriff's Office for nearly 20 years. He previously served as the chief of the Warsaw Police Department.

Eric's campaign for Duplin County sheriff is his first time running for public office. He has nearly 30 years of experience in law enforcement, including serving as a deputy with the Duplin County Sheriff's Office and as the police chief for the Town of Warsaw.

Eric is from Warsaw, North Carolina. He attended James Kenan High School and has an associate's degree in criminal justice from James Sprunt Community College.

Eric is a law enforcement instructor. He works at James Sprunt Community College, where he teaches the Basic Law Enforcement Program. He previously worked at the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office and served as chief of the Warsaw Police Department.

Eric is a law enforcement instructor. He works at James Sprunt Community College, where he teaches in the Basic Law Enforcement Program. He previously worked at the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office and served as chief of the Warsaw Police Department.

Eric Southerland's campaign for Duplin County Sheriff is his first entry into politics.

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Plans to double the presence of school resource officers (SROs) in every elementary and high school across the county.

Advocates for the reinstatement of Community Watch programs to empower residents to assist law enforcement in addressing local drug and criminal activity.

- Plans to double the presence of school resource officers (SROs) in every elementary and high school across the county.
- Advocates for the reinstatement of Community Watch programs to empower residents to assist law enforcement in addressing local drug and criminal activity.

Public Safety

As of January 2, 2026, Eric Southerland’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Jail Management

Plans to change the internal culture of the office to foster a more proactive rather than reactive approach to crime.

- Plans to change the internal culture of the office to foster a more proactive rather than reactive approach to crime.

Criminal Justice

Stratton Stokes

Stratton is the sheriff of Duplin County. He works at the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, where he has been serving since his election in 2022. He previously worked as a deputy and an agent with the State Bureau of Investigation. Prior to the election, he practiced law as an attorney.

Stratton F. Stokes is currently Sheriff of Duplin County. He was elected in 2022 and has served one term.

Stratton is the sheriff of Duplin County. He previously served as a deputy and an agent with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Before taking public office, he was a practicing attorney.

Stratton is currently the sheriff of Duplin County. He was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term.

Stratton is the sheriff of Duplin County. He works at the Duplin County Sheriff's Office, where he has been since 2022. He previously worked as a deputy and as an agent with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and practiced law as an attorney.

Stratton F. Stokes is currently the Sheriff of Duplin County. He was elected in 2022 and has served one term.

Stratton is the Duplin County Sheriff. He works at the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office. He previously served as a deputy and an agent with the State Bureau of Investigation and practiced law as an attorney.

Stratton is the sheriff of Duplin County. He works at the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office. He previously served as a deputy and an agent with the State Bureau of Investigation, and he practiced law as an attorney.

Meet the Sheriff - Duplin County Sheriffs Office

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Stratton F. Stokes was born and raised in Wallace and has lived in Duplin County his entire life. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Campbell University, later completing his law degree at Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. Stratton is married to Jennifer Marie Stokes, and they have one son.

Stratton currently serves as the Sheriff of Duplin County. He previously worked as an attorney at The Law Office of Stratton F. Stokes, P.A., and as managing partner at Lusby & Stokes Attorneys, P.A. He also served as a special agent with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and earlier worked as a deputy sheriff sergeant and detention officer with the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office.

Stratton F. Stokes (Duplin County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate ...

Stratton Stokes wins Rep. primary for sheriff of Duplin County

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Stratton currently serves as the Sheriff of Duplin County, North Carolina. He was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term.

Supports strengthening public safety through technology, staffing, and community engagement.

- Supports strengthening public safety through technology, staffing, and community engagement.

Supports jail modernization, enhanced security, and addressing overcrowding.

- Supports jail modernization, enhanced security, and addressing overcrowding.

Supports strict enforcement against drug trafficking and expanded narcotics operations.

Supports increased staffing and compensation to improve law enforcement effectiveness

Supports transparency and accountability through public-facing tools and reporting systems

- Supports strict enforcement against drug trafficking and expanded narcotics operations.
- Supports increased staffing and compensation to improve law enforcement effectiveness
- Supports transparency and accountability through public-facing tools and reporting systems

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Tony James

Tony James is originally from Duplin County, North Carolina. He attended James Sprunt Community College, where he graduated from the Basic Law Enforcement Program. Tony lives with his wife, Mandy Partida James, and their four children in Duplin County.

Tony previously served in the U.S. Army Reserves for about five years. He and his wife, Mandy, are business owners.

Tony James currently works as a sales representative for Augusta Seed, where he manages a network of dealers across multiple states. He is also a co-owner of Billy’s Pork and Beef in Wallace and a co-owner of James and Price Farms Incorporated. He previously worked in law enforcement with the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, where he served as a road deputy, school resource officer, and detective, and later continued in a reserve capacity. He has remained certified through the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Training and Standards Commission.

Tony previously served as a deputy sheriff with the Duplin County Sheriff's Office.

Tony James’s campaign for Duplin County Sheriff is his first run for public office.

- Supports expanding narcotics enforcement to deter crime
- Advocates for ensuring that schools have enough law enforcement resources to maintain safety and improve student perceptions of law enforcement.

As of January 2, 2026, Tony James’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Believes investing in youth and community engagement is an effective crime-prevention strategy.
- Supports gang awareness education as a crime-prevention tool
- Supports community-oriented, servant-leadership policing

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Tony previously served in the reserves for about five years. He is currently certified with the NC Training Standards.

Tony previously worked for the Duplin County Sheriff's Office from 2003 to 2008.

Tony James’s campaign for Duplin County Sheriff is his first entry into politics.

Tony is a reserve deputy at the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office. He has served in that role for about five years.

Tony James's campaign for Duplin County Sheriff is his first entry into politics.

Tony James is married to his wife, Mandy. 

Tony previously served in the U.S. Army Reserves for about five years.

Candidate website

Supports expanding narcotics enforcement to deter crime

Advocates for ensuring that schools have enough law enforcement resources to maintain safety and improve student perceptions of law enforcement.

Believes investing in youth and community engagement is an effective crime-prevention strategy.

Duplin Sheriff, Republican Primary

Candidates (3)