{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Tommy Wooten","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Tommy S. Wooten\u202fII is the incumbent Sheriff of Pasquotank County, North Carolina, and is seeking a third term in the Republican primary on March\u202f3,\u202f2026.  He has served as the county\u2019s chief law\u2011enforcement officer since being sworn in on December\u202f3,\u202f2018 and remains the sheriff as of 2025\u202f[8].\n\nWooten first won the sheriff\u2019s office in the 2018 general election, becoming the first Republican to hold the position in more than a century.  He was re\u2011elected in the 2022 general election, again defeating Democrat Eddie Graham\u202f[9][2].  In 2026 he faces Deputy Nina Daniels in the Republican primary, with no Democratic challenger on the November ballot\u202f[1][9].\n\nDuring his tenure Wooten has pursued several community\u2011safety initiatives.  He negotiated a partnership with Sentara Albemarle Medical Center to place full\u2011time deputies at the hospital, securing funding for the arrangement\u202f[7].  He also obtained funding for four additional School Resource Officers, expanding coverage to the county\u2019s two high schools, two middle schools, a technical school and several elementary schools\u202f[7].  A collaboration with the Department of Social Services provides special deputy security officers to guard the DSS building on weekdays\u202f[7].\n\nWooten\u2019s current platform emphasizes new projects.  He is working to place six sworn deputies at the new hospital on Halstead Boulevard Extension to improve security for health\u2011care workers, with a contract vote scheduled for January\u202f20\u202f[9].  He proposes \u201cspecial deputies\u201d equipped with Tasers to protect the DSS facility, and is developing a four\u2011year \u201cstep\u2011down unit\u201d to assist recently released inmates with re\u2011entry services\u202f[9].  A proposed Special Victims Unit is also under consideration, pending state funding\u202f[9].\n\nPublic safety incidents have highlighted his role.  In March\u202f2024, Sheriff Wooten reported a pursuit that ended with a suspect firing a rifle toward a Pasquotank County deputy; the deputy was unharmed and the suspect was later apprehended\u202f[10].\n\nIf he secures the Republican nomination, Wooten will run unopposed in the November general election.  His campaign stresses respect, professionalism, and a record of expanding law\u2011enforcement resources while outlining future projects for the county\u202f[9].\n\nPersonal background, education and prior career details are not provided in the available sources.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Tommy Wooten (Pasquotank County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate 2026) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tommy_Wooten_(Pasquotank_County_Sheriff,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2026))\n- [2] [Tommy Wooten (Pasquotank County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tommy_Wooten_(Pasquotank_County_Sheriff,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n- [7] [Home - Sheriff Tommy Wooten](https://sherifftommywooten.com/)\n- [8] [Sheriffs of Pasquotank County \u2014 Pasquotank County North Carolina](https://www.pasquotankcountync.org/sheriffs-of-pasquotank-county)\n- [9] [Unfinished work inspires Wooten to seek third term | Local News | dailyadvance.com](https://www.dailyadvance.com/news/local/unfinished-work-inspires-wooten-to-seek-third-term/article_d491f598-b36c-457a-86fb-b5770d85be4b.html)\n- [10] [1 arrested after shooting toward Pasquotank Co. deputy, authorities say](https://www.wtkr.com/news/manhunt-for-2-armed-people-underway-in-elizabeth-city-shelter-in-place-issued)","firstname":"Tommy","lastname":"Wooten","middlename":"Steve","suffix":"II","token":"321baed23d259075"},"token":"5mRc20Rb1n4GgkFy"}],"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":"Pasquotank County Sheriff"}