{"biography":"Alan W. Cutler is the incumbent Sheriff of Pender County, North Carolina, and is seeking re\u2011election as the Republican candidate for the 2026 race.  The sheriff\u2019s office is charged with preserving the peace, maintaining public order, enforcing state law, operating the county jail, and providing court security across nearly 1,000 square miles of largely rural territory\u30103\u2020L1-L4\u3011.  The position carries a four\u2011year term and a salary of $101,137 plus benefits\u30107\u2020L13-L16\u3011.\n\nCutler was raised in the Scotts Hill community of Pender County and graduated from Topsail High School\u30103\u2020L9-L11\u3011.  He began his law\u2011enforcement career in 1990 as a deputy with the Pender County Sheriff\u2019s Office under Sheriff Mike Harvell.  After four years he entered the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, graduating from the 1994 Basic School and being sworn in as a trooper on May 12, 1995, where he was assigned to Onslow County\u30103\u2020L12-L15\u3011.  He returned to Pender County in 2006, served until his retirement on November 1, 2018, and was sworn in as the 19th Sheriff of Pender County on December 3, 2018\u30103\u2020L15-L18\u3011.\n\nDuring his tenure Cutler has emphasized community service, transparency, and fiscal responsibility.  He publicly opposed a county resolution to join the federal 287(g) immigration\u2011enforcement program in early 2025, arguing that the Sheriff\u2019s Office already cooperates with ICE and that the program would impose costly staffing and facility requirements on taxpayers\u30105\u2020L1-L9\u3011\u30105\u2020L10-L15\u3011.  In the 2018 campaign he highlighted the need for more deputies, auxiliary support, and better communication with the county commissioners to address manpower shortfalls and the opioid crisis\u30107\u2020L23-L31\u3011.  He also advocated for increased school\u2011resource officer presence and multi\u2011agency response plans for active\u2011shooter situations\u301012\u2020L31-L38\u3011.\n\nCutler is married with three children and is an active deacon at Barlow Vista Baptist Church\u30103\u2020L19-L20\u3011.  He has repeatedly stressed his 30\u2011plus years of law\u2011enforcement experience, his deep roots in the community, and a commitment to integrity and public safety as the core of his campaign platform\u301011\u2020L1-L7\u3011\u301012\u2020L1-L5\u3011.  His official campaign website is alancutlerforsheriff.com, where voters can find additional information and contact details.\n\nOverall, Cutler\u2019s record combines long\u2011standing local service, experience with both county and state law\u2011enforcement agencies, and a public stance on fiscal prudence and community\u2011focused policing, which he presents as qualifications for continued leadership of the Pender County Sheriff\u2019s Office.\n\n## Sources\n- [2] [Vote-USA | Alan Cutler | Currently Elected Pender County Sheriff, Pender County, North Carolina](https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=NC&Id=NCCutlerAlana)\n- [3] [Meet Sheriff Cutler | Pender County, NC](https://www.pendersheriff.com/312/About-Us)\n- [5] [Pender County Sheriff shares why he spoke out publicly against resolution that would strengthen local immigration enforcement](https://www.wect.com/2025/02/21/pender-county-sheriff-shares-why-he-spoke-out-publicly-against-resolution-that-would-strengthen-immigration-enforcement/)\n- [7] [2018 Primary: Alan Cutler for Pender County Sheriff\u2019s Office | Port City Daily](https://portcitydaily.com/local-news/2018/05/07/2018-primary-alan-cutler-for-pender-county-sheriffs-office/)\n- [11] [Alan Cutler set to file seeking Pender County Sheriff position - WWAYTV3](https://www.wwaytv3.com/alan-cutler-set-to-file-seeking-pender-county-sheriff-position/)\n- [12] [Q&A with Pender County Sheriff candidates | Port City Daily](https://portcitydaily.com/local-news/2018/10/04/qa-with-pender-county-sheriff-candidates/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_sheriff","county":"pender","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Pender County Sheriff"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Alan","fullname":"Alan Webster Cutler","lastname":"Cutler","middlename":"Webster","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_sheriff","contest_title":"Pender County Sheriff","county":"pender","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"pender","office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"pender","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_sheriff","contest_title":"Pender County Sheriff","county":"pender","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"pender","office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Alan Cutler, incumbent Pender County Sheriff, seeks re\u2011election on a platform of community\u2011focused policing and fiscal prudence.","terms":[],"token":"0c160a5c1e75589a"}