Southampton County sheriff candidate: Josh A. Wyche Sr.

Published 4:50 pm Saturday, October 21, 2023

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

1.) Can you briefly summarize why you decided to run for reelection as sheriff?

Running for re-election is not about me. I decided to run for reelection as sheriff because I pride myself in serving my community and I love what I do.

2.) What experience and achievements would you cite that support your bid as being the best candidate to serve as sheriff for the next four years?

The experiences and achievements that I would cite as being the best candidate to serve as sheriff for the next four years are, I am the current sheriff who has served in this role for the past four years. I have over three decades of experience of protecting and serving the citizens of Southampton County and the City of Franklin. Upon taking office in 2020, I was able to lead the agency through Covid-19 and the supply chain chaos. Together with my staff, whom I call family, we have brought people together and built bridges with agencies all around us. I am always in the community because I believe in order to know your community, you must take part in your community. By putting myself and the deputies out front, we have brought unity in our community.

3.) What do you believe are the most important qualities of a good sheriff?

The most important qualities of a good sheriff are accessibility, visibility, honesty, integrity, having sense of justice, assertiveness but approachable, compassion for people, be a leader who leads from the front and being there for ALL citizens, as well as those who serve under you. You must know the community and the citizens who you have sworn to protect and serve.

4.) What goals would you like to achieve during the next four years if you are elected?

The goals I would like to achieve during the next four years is to be able to offer higher salaries which are compatible to those who surround us. My goal is to continue to look for qualified applicants, seeking to become fully staffed, better able to serve and protect all citizens of Southampton County and The City of Franklin.

5.) Is there anything that has been said about you by your opponent or others during the campaign that you would like to directly counter or respond to in this space?

No, there is not currently anything I would like to counter or respond to in this space. However, I am aware of a lot of criticism and negative conversations said to put me and my staff down. We know who we are and will continue to be professionals and focus on those who we are sworn to protect and serve, our citizens. I feel that we have gained the respect of our community by being prompt, professional, courteous and respectful in our services to the communities of Southampton County and the City of Franklin.