{"biography":"Harry Lamont Southerland is a Democratic member of the Hoke County Board of Commissioners, serving at\u2011large and whose current term runs through December\u202f31,\u202f2026. He is again a candidate for the Hoke County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 primary election\u202f[10].\n\nSoutherland 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\u202f[3][8]. He also holds a second bachelor\u2019s degree in economics from NC\u202fState\u202f[8].\n\nBefore entering elected office, Southerland built a career in both law and business. He has been chair of The Southerland Group since 2002\u202f[3] and for the past five years has served as agency director of Elite Group Services, a home\u2011health agency in Raeford\u202f[8]. He also co\u2011hosts the Sheryl Underwood Radio show\u202f[3] and previously owned and operated a multimillion\u2011dollar business employing over 200 people\u202f[9]. His professional background includes negotiating large\u2011scale contracts and serving on numerous legal and civic organizations, such as the North Carolina Bar Association and the 100\u202fBlack\u202fMen Association\u202f[3].\n\nSoutherland\u2019s public service began with a four\u2011year stint on the Hoke County Board of Education, where he served as vice chair from 2000 to 2004\u202f[3]. He was first elected to the Hoke County Board of Commissioners in 2015 and has now completed seven years in that role\u202f[8]. As a commissioner he oversees an annual county budget exceeding $56\u202fmillion, directing funds toward commercial and residential growth\u202f[8]. Notable achievements during his tenure include raising the minimum wage for full\u2011time county employees and initiating construction on a $27\u202fmillion aquatic and recreation center\u202f[8].\n\nIn addition to his elected duties, Southerland remains active in community organizations, including the Hoke County Civic League and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity\u202f[3]. He previously served on the Judicial District\u202f16A Penalties Committee and the North Carolina Association of Trial Attorneys\u202f[3].\n\nSoutherland\u2019s campaign for re\u2011election is hosted on his personal website, www.harrysoutherland.com, where voters can learn more about his platform and contact his campaign\u202f[4].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Harry Southerland (Hoke County Board of Commissioners, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Harry_Southerland_(Hoke_County_Board_of_Commissioners,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n- [3] [Harry Southerland's Biography](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/162740/harry-southerland)\n- [4] [Vote-USA | Harry Southerland | Currently Elected Hoke County Board of Commissioners At-Large, Hoke County, North Carolina](https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=NC&Id=NCSoutherlandHarry)\n- [8] [Harry Southerland | Cake](https://www.cake.me/resumes/harry-southerland)\n- [9] [Harry Southerland](https://www.thenews-journal.com/pages/harrysoutherland.html)\n- [10] [Harry Southerland | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/nc/north-carolina-hoke-county-commissioner/harry-southerland)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission","county":"hoke","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Hoke County Board Of Commissioners"},{"contest":"county_commission","county":"hoke","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Hoke County Board Of Commissioners"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Harry","fullname":"Harry Lamont Southerland","lastname":"Southerland","middlename":"Lamont","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Hoke County Board Of Commissioners","county":"hoke","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"hoke","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Hoke County Board Of Commissioners","county":"hoke","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"hoke","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"hoke","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Hoke County Board Of Commissioners","county":"hoke","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"hoke","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Harry Lamont Southerland is a Democratic Hoke County Commissioner seeking re\u2011election in 2026, with a background in law, business, and community service.","terms":[],"token":"59219d7d5ab2d2ee"}