Ferrell and Edwards face off in County Commissioner primary

In District 2, Tiffany Ferrell is stepping forward to challenge the status quo for County Commissioner in District 2 currently held by incumbent Dexter Edwards.

Tiffany Ferrell

Tell us a bit about yourself, your background, what inspired you to run for county commissioner?
My name is Tiffany Ferrell, and I am a community advocate from Pink Hill who believes local government should be built on trust and accessibility. I am running because our District 2 residents deserve a leader who is truly part of the community—someone who shows up to every forum, answers every question, and remains visible long after the election is over. My inspiration comes from a simple belief: leadership is about service, not silence. I want to replace the current culture of secrecy with a culture of community that treats every neighbor with respect.

What are the biggest challenges you see in Duplin County? And how would you address things differently?
The most critical challenges in Duplin County are a lack of transparency and the widening gap between the Board and the people it serves. Decisions are often made behind closed doors, leaving taxpayers to wonder where their hard-earned money is going. My approach differs fundamentally from the incumbent’s because I will not hide from the public. While some choose to avoid community forums and public scrutiny, I believe that true accountability requires facing the voters directly. I will address things differently by being a present and active representative who welcomes tough questions rather than avoiding the people who asked them.

If elected, what concrete actions would you take in the first 90 days?
Within my first 90 days, I will take three concrete steps to open the doors of county government. First, I will push for an immediate independent audit of county spending to ensure fiscal integrity. Second, I will launch a “District 2 Direct” communication network, providing a dedicated email and phone line specifically for residents to reach me and provide feedback. Third, I will host a series of informal meetings across the district. Unlike the current trend of being unreachable, these informal meetings will be a permanent fixture of my term, ensuring that I am physically present to hear from you before—not after—major board votes are taken.

What’s one piece of advice you’ve received that has stuck with you?
The most impactful advice I’ve received is the quote, “Life is for service.” This resonates with me because service requires presence. You cannot serve a community you aren’t willing to engage with face-to-face. It is easy to hold a title, but it is much harder—and much more rewarding—to actually do the work of showing up for your neighbors. This advice drives my commitment to be the most accessible commissioner Duplin County has ever seen.

What concrete steps would you take/support to improve transparency and ensure residents’ feel acknowledged?
To ensure residents feel acknowledged, I will advocate for a complete overhaul of how the public interacts with the Board. I support making all public records easily accessible and ensuring that meetings are structured to prioritize citizen input. Most importantly, I will bridge the gap by showing up consistently. When an elected official skips forums or avoids community events, it sends a clear message that the public isn’t a priority. I will change that by being a commissioner who is always available, listens with empathy, and ensures that the “people’s house” is actually open to the people.

Dexter Edwards

Who are you beyond the commissioner role — your background, passions. If you had a free afternoon with no obligations, how would you spend it?

I am a life-long resident of Duplin County. I graduated from East Duplin High School and received a degree in Animal Science from James Sprunt Community College. I have recently retired from Smithfield Foods as General Manager, after 48 years. I am dedicated to the agriculture community and the citizens of Duplin County and continue to strive to make this a successful community that our citizens can remain in Duplin County and make a successful living. I am a member of the Beulaville Free Will Baptist Church where I serve as a Deacon. I am a Conservative and a Christian and believe in treating all people with dignity and respect. If I had a free afternoon I would spend it with my wife and grandchildren.

You’ve served Duplin County in this office for many years. What are two of your biggest accomplishments as county commissioner?

In 2014, when I became a commissioner, our tax rate was 73 cents per $100 of property value and our fund balance was $6.2 million. Working with our staff for better utilization of our funds Duplin County tax rate is 58 cents per $100, and our fund balance is now $35.8 million. At this same time period, we have been able to build the new K-8 school organization. We have also built the new Duplin County Transportation Center, Service for the Aged/Veterans Facility, Duplin County Animal Shelter, and completed a new Duplin County Jail. We have been able to accomplish this by funding from the General Assembly and good fiscal management.

What’s one piece of advice you’ve received that has stuck with you?

The one piece of advice I received was to listen to everyone’s concerns but then evaluate the pros and cons of the overall impact prior to making your final decision. I have tried to take that piece of advice to heart. Although it is difficult sometimes you have to make the decision in favor of the most positive impact for the majority.

What are the biggest challenges you see in Duplin County in terms of infrastructure, tax rates and sustainable development in the county?

The first goal for the county is to secure a strong county manager that can unify a team of dedicated employees. After this we need to secure affordable funding to complete the high school facility projects. We must also continue to insure our county employee compensation programs remain competitive and comparable while keeping our tax rate affordable.

What concrete steps would you take/support to improve transparency and ensure residents’ feel acknowledged?

We need to continue to post our public held meetings with recordings available for those not able to attend.