{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Dean Martin Tolson","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Dean Martin Tolson is the incumbent Clerk of the Superior Court for Dare County, North Carolina, and is seeking re\u2011election to that office as a Republican in the 2026 general election. The Clerk of Superior Court is the chief administrator of the county\u2019s trial\u2011court system, responsible for maintaining court records, processing filings, collecting fees, and providing support services to judges, attorneys, and the public\u301011\u2020L1-L4\u3011.\n\nTolson was born on November 25, 1951, in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended the University of Arkansas, where he played power forward for the Razorbacks and was selected in the fifth round of the 1974 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics\u30105\u2020L9-L15\u3011. He spent three seasons in the NBA, appearing in 80 games, and also played in the Continental Basketball Association and overseas before retiring from professional basketball in 1981\u30105\u2020L23-L31\u3011.\n\nAfter his basketball career, Tolson returned to school and earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (with an emphasis in Law) from East Carolina University in 1994, graduating with honors\u301011\u2020L13-L16\u3011. He began a career with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety in 1995, rising to the rank of Probation Officer\u202fII and being named Judicial District\u202f1 Probation Officer of the Year in 2008\u301011\u2020L17-L20\u3011.\n\nIn November 2013, Tolson was sworn in as Dare County\u2019s Clerk of Superior Court after the retirement of Merlee Austin. The appointment was made by Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jerry R. Tillett, and Tolson has served in that capacity ever since\u301011\u2020L1-L8\u3011. As clerk, he has overseen the office\u2019s daily operations and, in 2021, appointed retired magistrate Philip Ruckle as a temporary, part\u2011time clerk to address a surge in paperwork\u301012\u2020L1-L7\u3011.\n\nTolson is also a certified Cal Ripken League baseball coach, a longtime volunteer coach since 2003, and serves on the board of the Manteo First Assembly of God, where he is an active member. He is married, has three children, and resides in Manteo, North Carolina\u301011\u2020L21-L24\u3011. His public service record combines experience in law enforcement, court administration, and community leadership, which he highlights as qualifications for continued service as Clerk of Superior Court.\n\n## Sources\n- [5] [Dean Tolson - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Tolson)\n- [11] [The Outer Banks Voice - Former probation officer takes over as clerk of Dare court](https://www.outerbanksvoice.com/2013/11/01/former-probation-officer-takes-over-as-clerk-of-dare-court/)\n- [12] [Retired magistrate called back to active duty](https://www.thecoastlandtimes.com/news/retired-magistrate-called-back-to-active-duty-39441/)","firstname":"Dean","lastname":"Tolson","middlename":"Martin","suffix":null,"token":"8590b2fd3d2d83b2"},"token":"oFwjAYubIB5K7sJw"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":null,"o.office":"clerk_of_superior_court","office":"clerk_of_superior_court","officedescription":"In North Carolina, the clerk of superior court keeps the records of the trial courts and also serves as an ex-officio judge of probate and over estates, guardianships, and certain special proceedings. It is both a records office and a judicial one.","officequalities":"- Records management for the trial courts, in conformity with North Carolina procedure and the orders of the judges.\n- Judicial responsibility over probate, estates, guardianships, and special proceedings \u2014 the clerk decides these matters.\n- Financial controls for collecting and disbursing court costs, fines, estate funds, and trust funds, with public accountability.\n- Supervision of a clerical staff handling high case volume and frequent statutory deadlines.\n- Attention to legal detail and sensitivity with a public often dealing with death or incapacity.\n- Administrative reliability \u2014 the office's filings are legally binding and its records are evidence.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Clerk of Superior Court","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Dare County Clerk Of Superior Court"}