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Samuel Eric Southerland
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
Eric Southerland is a candidate for the office of Duplin County Sheriff in North Carolina 1. He is running in the 2026 election cycle for this position 1.
Background and education
Eric Southerland was born in 1980 1. He self-describes as a Christian and attended Duplin County Schools 1. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Pitt Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree from East Carolina University 1.
Career
Eric Southerland is a graduate of James Sprunt Community College, where he completed his Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certification 35. He has described law enforcement as his first career choice since high school 6. His professional background spans nearly three decades in law enforcement and emergency response within Duplin County 3.
Southerland served as the Chief of Police in Warsaw, North Carolina, a role in which he managed complex operations and oversaw departmental budgets 37. He previously held positions as a deputy sheriff and has worked as an instructor for the BLET program at James Sprunt Community College 78. Southerland self-describes his career as having spanned roles from deputy to chief of police, emphasizing a commitment to serving and protecting the community 7.
In March 2026, Southerland won the Republican primary for Duplin County Sheriff 2. He subsequently defeated his opponent in the general election to become the incoming sheriff for the county 48.
Office history
Eric Southerland served as the Chief of Police in Warsaw, North Carolina, from 2014 to 2020 39. In this role, he managed complex operations and oversaw departmental budgets 3. Prior to becoming chief, he worked as a deputy sheriff and held other law enforcement positions over a career spanning nearly three decades 7. He is a graduate of James Sprunt Community College, where he completed Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certification 56.
In 2026, Southerland ran for the office of Duplin County Sheriff in North Carolina 1. He competed against incumbent Stratton Stokes and another candidate, Tony James, in the Republican primary held on March 4, 2026 11. Southerland defeated Stokes in that primary with 2,289 votes to Stokesβs 1,821 votes 9. As a result of this victory, he is scheduled to assume the role of Duplin County Sheriff following the general election 10.
Business interests and wealth source
Eric Southerland self-describes as a business owner 1. Specific details regarding his business interests, family wealth sources, ownership stakes, or sales of businesses are not provided in the available source material 1. Consequently, significant financial-disclosure facts related to these areas are not included in this summary 1.
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record β search by last name on each.
North Carolina β campaign finance
- State, county, and municipal candidates β all in one system β NC State Board of Elections β Committee Search. Search by last name “Southerland”.
North Carolina β statement of economic interest
- Required for state-elected and many local officials β NC State Ethics Commission β Statement of Economic Interest Search. Search by last name “Southerland”.