{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Cleveland (Clee) Atkinson, Jr.","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Cleveland Atkinson\u202fJr. is the incumbent Sheriff of Edgecombe County, North\u202fCarolina, and is seeking the Democratic nomination for a full term in the 2026 county\u2011wide election on November\u202f3,\u202f2026.  Atkinson first appeared on the ballot in the general election for Edgecombe County Sheriff on November\u202f8,\u202f2022, running as the Democratic candidate\u202f[1].  Subsequent reporting refers to him as \u201cEdgecombe County Sheriff, Cleveland Atkinson, Jr.\u201d, indicating that he won that race and has been serving in the office at least through 2023\u202f[9].\n\nPublic information about Atkinson\u2019s early life and formal education is not detailed in the available sources.  The Ballotpedia entry does not list schooling, and the North Carolina Wesleyan University (NCWU) partnership announcement likewise provides no biographical data beyond his current title\u202f[9].\n\nBefore and during his tenure as sheriff, Atkinson has been active in the community in other roles.  A Facebook video profile notes that he works as a referee for football games in the evenings, describing him as \u201cthe Edgecombe County Sheriff\u2019s Office Sheriff by day and during football season, a referee at night\u201d\u202f[6].  This suggests a continued engagement with local sports and youth activities.\n\nOne of Atkinson\u2019s recent initiatives as sheriff is a partnership with NCWU to expand educational opportunities for employees of the Edgecombe County Sheriff\u2019s Office and their immediate families.  The agreement, signed in early 2023, provides certificate, undergraduate and graduate degree awards ranging from $250 to $2,000 per employee, depending on the program level\u202f[9].  Atkinson praised the collaboration, stating, \u201cIt is an honor for the Sheriff\u2019s office to partner with NC Wesleyan University and I firmly believe that more education will train our department to better serve Edgecombe County.\u201d\u202f[9]\n\nWhile Atkinson\u2019s campaign platform for the 2026 race is not outlined in the sources, his public record highlights a focus on professional development for deputies, community involvement through sports officiating, and maintaining public safety for the \u201cTwin Counties\u201d of Edgecombe and surrounding areas\u202f[9].  Voters can expect his re\u2011election campaign to build on these themes, emphasizing education, training, and community engagement.\n\nAtkinson\u2019s prior electoral experience includes completing the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey for the 2022 election, though he did not submit a detailed questionnaire through that channel\u202f[1].  No personal contact information such as email or phone number is provided in the cited sources.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Cleveland Atkinson (Edgecombe County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Cleveland_Atkinson_(Edgecombe_County_Sheriff,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n- [6] [Cleveland Atkinson is the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office ...](https://www.facebook.com/NickSturdivantTV/videos/cleveland-atkinson-is-the-edgecombe-county-sheriffs-office-sheriff-by-day-and-du/6075163579166393/)\n- [9] [NCWU Offers Educational Benefits to Edgecombe County Sheriff\u2019s Office | North Carolina Wesleyan University](https://ncwu.edu/ncwu-offers-educational-benefits-to-edgecombe-county-sheriffs-office/)","firstname":"Cleveland","lastname":"Atkinson","middlename":null,"suffix":"JR","token":"4f8e76bfa8388822"},"token":"rSWAOo9IYbaEajpf"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"sheriff","o.office":"county_sheriff","office":"county_sheriff","officedescription":"The sheriff is the county's chief law-enforcement officer. The office operates the county jail, provides court security, serves civil process and executes warrants, and provides patrol and investigation \u2014 a large operational command with a substantial budget.","officequalities":"- Organizational leadership of a sheriff's office spanning patrol, investigations, court services, and the county jail.\n- Oversight of the county jail, including intake, inmate health, and release procedures.\n- Working knowledge of Tennessee criminal law, court process, and constitutional search-and-seizure standards.\n- Ability to develop and oversee the office's operating budget with public accountability.\n- Coordination with municipal police departments and neighboring-county and state agencies.\n- A documented law-enforcement or public-safety background.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Sheriff","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Edgecombe County Sheriff"}