To the Editor:

John B. “Jack” Stutts has offered himself as a candidate for sheriff of Franklin and Southampton. I endorse his candidacy for the following reasons.

Jack is a Southampton native who grew up in Franklin, graduating from Franklin High School. A Southampton resident, his children attended Southampton schools and he has been an active supporter of the Southampton school system.

He has served in the Sheriff’s Department for 29 successful years as deputy, detective, sergeant, lieutenant and captain. He is a graduate of the FBI Academy and holds an associate degree in law enforcement. He is experienced in the planning and management of training and organization in the department, as well as budgeting and directing human resources. Clearly, extensively professionally experienced, he has been much complimented by judges, attorneys and law enforcement officers in other counties and cities.

He was among the first non-State Police officers to be appointed leader of a regional drug enforcement task force. His love of the people of Southampton and Franklin led him to refuse opportunities in other locations. Jack believes that laws must be enforced without regard to ethnic or religious background, and that all people in the community must be treated equally, with compassion as well as firmness.

I believe he is well qualified to vigorously meet the increasing challenges to our public safety and security. He believes cooperation among law enforcement agencies in neighboring jurisdictions and with the state and federal government is an absolute necessity.

Jack has been married to the former Alice Neave of the Berlin community in the county for 30 years. They have two children, Judson, a Virginia Tech graduate, and Jessica, who attends now.

In these often stressful times, the office of sheriff deserves the best leadership and cooperation, especially between law enforcement in Franklin and Southampton, we can provide, and I ask you to join me in voting for Jack Stutts for sheriff.

John M. Camp Jr.
Franklin