Former Beaufort County Sheriff’s Lt. launches bid for sheriff

BEAUFORT COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A former Beaufort County Sheriff’s lieutenant now with the Craven County Sheriff’s office hopes to return to where his law enforcement career began as sheriff.

Kelly Cox, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office’s public information officer, has launched his campaign for sheriff of Beaufort County.

The primary is more than a year away, on March 3rd of 2026, but Cox, running as a Republican, says it “Is a critical moment where your voice can shape the leadership of our community. Every vote counts in determining the direction of our county, and your participation ensures that strong, conservative, servanthood leadership is in place to uphold our values, protect our rights, and serve with integrity.”

Cox is from Beaufort County and started working for the sheriff’s office in 2008 where he became part of the command staff as a lieutenant.

Kelly left the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office following the last election for sheriff saying, “Due to political turmoil and a contentious election cycle, he made the difficult decision to leave the department and transition to the Craven County Sheriff’s Office.”

Kelly says, “As your next Sheriff of Beaufort County, I am committed to ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of every resident. My vision is to build a stronger, more united community by fostering trust between law enforcement and the people we serve. I believe in proactive policing, transparency, and accountability—ensuring that our deputies have the training, resources, and leadership necessary to protect and serve with integrity.”

Current Beaufort County Sheriff Scott Hammonds, a Republican, was elected sheriff in 2022.