Paula Stokes Dance

Sheriff Paula S. Dance is the incumbent Pitt County Sheriff and is seeking a third term in the 2026 Democratic primary for the office. She entered the primary ballot on March 3, 2026 and won a landslide victory over challenger Richie Williams, receiving 11,587 votes to Williams' 2,390, and currently faces no Republican opponent in the November general election ¹²¹.

Dance earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Mount Olive, as reported in her Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey ¹. She was born and raised in Martin County, North Carolina, and began her law‑enforcement career in 1990 as a clerk with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office before moving to Pitt County in 1994 as a deputy ⁵⁹. Over the next two decades she rose through the ranks: Sergeant of the Domestic Violence Unit, Detective in Major Crimes, Lieutenant (2010), Captain (2011), and Major in 2013, making her third‑in‑command of the agency ⁵⁹.

In 2018 Dance ran for sheriff and was elected, becoming the first African‑American female sheriff in North Carolina and the first Black sheriff in Pitt County. She was sworn in on December 3, 2018 and was re‑elected in 2022, beginning her second term on December 5, 2022 ⁵².

As sheriff, Dance oversees patrol operations, the county detention center, court security, and civil process functions. She emphasizes transparency, fairness, and community trust, noting that public safety works best when residents know their sheriff leads with integrity ¹. Early in her tenure she launched the Sheriff’s Heroin Addiction Recovery (SHARP) and Women’s Empowerment Addiction Recovery (WEAR) programs—the first of their kind in North Carolina—to address repeat incarceration linked to substance abuse and poverty, connecting inmates with education, counseling, and faith‑based support ²³.

Dance’s leadership has been highlighted in local media, with a WNCT video confirming her continued service after winning the 2022 election and a WITN report noting her historic status and strong primary performance in 2026 ⁴¹². She remains active in community outreach, mentoring youth, and partnering with local organizations to promote prevention and long‑term safety for Pitt County residents ¹⁹.

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