Harry Lamont Southerland

Harry Lamont Southerland is a Democratic member of the Hoke County Board of Commissioners, serving at‑large and whose current term runs through December 31, 2026. He is again a candidate for the Hoke County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 primary election [10].

Southerland was born and raised in Raeford, North Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Administration and Management from North Carolina State University and a Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University [3][8]. He also holds a second bachelor’s degree in economics from NC State [8].

Before entering elected office, Southerland built a career in both law and business. He has been chair of The Southerland Group since 2002 [3] and for the past five years has served as agency director of Elite Group Services, a home‑health agency in Raeford [8]. He also co‑hosts the Sheryl Underwood Radio show [3] and previously owned and operated a multimillion‑dollar business employing over 200 people [9]. His professional background includes negotiating large‑scale contracts and serving on numerous legal and civic organizations, such as the North Carolina Bar Association and the 100 Black Men Association [3].

Southerland’s public service began with a four‑year stint on the Hoke County Board of Education, where he served as vice chair from 2000 to 2004 [3]. He was first elected to the Hoke County Board of Commissioners in 2015 and has now completed seven years in that role [8]. As a commissioner he oversees an annual county budget exceeding $56 million, directing funds toward commercial and residential growth [8]. Notable achievements during his tenure include raising the minimum wage for full‑time county employees and initiating construction on a $27 million aquatic and recreation center [8].

In addition to his elected duties, Southerland remains active in community organizations, including the Hoke County Civic League and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity [3]. He previously served on the Judicial District 16A Penalties Committee and the North Carolina Association of Trial Attorneys [3].

Southerland’s campaign for re‑election is hosted on his personal website, www.harrysoutherland.com, where voters can learn more about his platform and contact his campaign [4].

Sources

• [1] Harry Southerland (Hoke County Board of Commissioners, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia
• [3] Harry Southerland's Biography
• [4] Vote-USA | Harry Southerland | Currently Elected Hoke County Board of Commissioners At-Large, Hoke County, North Carolina
• [8] Harry Southerland | Cake
• [9] Harry Southerland
• [10] Harry Southerland | BallotReady