Marvin Hilliard for Sheriff of Martin County
A Sheriff Who Serves with Heart, Not Politics
🔹 A Sheriff Who Understands the People
Born and raised right here in Martin County, I understand our families, our struggles, and our values. I’ve lived the same challenges many of you face working hard, raising a family, and striving to make our communities stronger. I’m not just asking for your vote; I’m asking for your trust to continue serving the people I grew up with.
🔹 Proven Leadership & Service
With over 17 years of experience in law enforcement, I’ve dedicated my life to protecting and serving others. Beyond the badge, I’ve led through service founding the TFBU Foundation, volunteering with the Oak City Fire Department, and working daily to uplift our community. My record shows one thing clearly: when my community needs help, I show up.
🔹 Fairness & Accountability
I believe in equal justice for all not favoritism, not politics, and not power. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. As Sheriff, I’ll ensure our office stands on truth, transparency, and fairness because justice should never depend on who you are or where you live.
🔹 Community-First Policing
Law enforcement is strongest when it works with the community, not just in it. I will focus on building real relationships through visibility, listening, and respect. When people trust the Sheriff’s Office, we all become safer.
🔹 Investing in Our Youth
The future of Martin County depends on our young people. I believe prevention starts with opportunity through mentorship, education, and programs that give our youth something positive to believe in. If we reach them early, we can change lives before trouble ever begins.
🔹 Safety for Every Community
Every town, every road, every neighborhood deserves to feel safe. I will prioritize neighborhood patrols, faster emergency response, and stronger partnerships with citizens. Together, we’ll create safer streets and closer connections between officers and residents.
🔹 Integrity You Can Trust
Who I am in public is exactly who I am in private honest, humble, and always willing to serve. I’ve spent years proving that leadership isn’t about power it’s about people. As your Sheriff, I’ll continue to serve with faith, fairness, and heart.
🔹 United, Not Divided
I will work to bring all people together Black, white, Democrat, or Republican because justice has no color, and leadership has no sides. Martin County deserves a Sheriff who believes in unity over division, fairness over politics, and compassion over conflict. Together, we can move forward as one community strong, safe, and united.
MY VISION FOR THE MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Being Sheriff is a tremendously complex responsibility. It requires more than wearing a badge. It requires knowledge, experience, leadership, sound judgment, financial responsibility, and the ability to bring people together.
The citizens of Martin County work hard and pay taxes, and they deserve to know that their tax dollars are being managed responsibly and that they are receiving quality public safety services in return.
The Sheriff must manage a significant budget, supervise personnel, maintain equipment and technology, operate the jail and other agency functions, build partnerships, and make decisions that affect the safety of our entire county.
We also understand the financial challenges facing rural counties like Martin County. Our local tax base cannot carry every need by itself. That is why our next Sheriff must know how to pursue grants, build partnerships, identify outside funding sources, and bring additional resources into our county.
I have experience helping secure funding for organizations and departments, including recently assisting with approximately $500,000 in funding for the Oak City Fire Department. I want to bring that same determination, resourcefulness, and fiscal responsibility to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
VISION FOR OUR CITIZENS
My administration will focus on:
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Rebuilding Community Trust
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Community Programs for Our Youth
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Gun Safety and Firearms Training
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Working Chaplains Assigned Throughout the County
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Life Alert/Senior Safety Program
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Citizens Academy
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Transparency and Accountability
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Open-Door Policy
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Community-Oriented Policing
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Stronger Relationships Between Deputies and the Communities They Serve
I want our citizens to know their deputies, and I want our deputies to know the people they have sworn to protect.
COUNTY CITATION & CIVIL ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE
I will work with the Martin County Board of Commissioners, County Attorney, and other appropriate officials to explore and implement county-level civil citation enforcement wherever it is legally authorized.
The purpose will be twofold: hold people accountable while reducing unnecessary financial consequences for our citizens and keeping eligible revenue here in Martin County.
When legally permitted, a county civil citation may provide an alternative to certain state charges. Depending on the specific violation and applicable law, an eligible civil citation could allow a person to resolve the matter without the same court process or driver-license and insurance points associated with certain state motor-vehicle convictions.
This approach is not about ignoring the law or eliminating consequences. Serious offenses and violations that must be charged under state law will continue to be handled appropriately. Instead, the goal is to use discretion and lawful alternatives for eligible lower-level violations when doing so serves both public safety and our citizens.
Rather than unnecessarily placing additional financial burdens on working families, we should examine lawful ways to keep people accountable while reducing avoidable court appearances, lost time from work, and other long-term consequences.
Any county citation program would be developed in accordance with North Carolina law and county ordinances, with clear policies identifying which violations qualify, the applicable penalties, how citations can be contested, and how any revenue may legally be used.
Accountability does not always have to mean creating a financial hardship for a family. We can enforce the law, protect our community, and use common sense at the same time.
VISION FOR OUR DEPUTIES
Our deputies deserve leadership that supports them, equips them, trains them, and listens to them. My priorities will include:
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Advanced Training and Professional Development
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Marriage and Family Survival/Wellness Training
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Creation of a Specialized Response/Task Force
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Greater Community Engagement
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An Open-Door Policy for Employees
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Revamping the School Resource Officer Schedule and Program
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Updating Equipment and Technology
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Seeking Grants and Outside Funding to Reduce the Burden on Local Taxpayers
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Promoting Professionalism, Accountability, and Employee Development
WORKING TOGETHER
Public safety cannot operate in isolation. The Sheriff’s Office must work collaboratively with our schools, fire departments, EMS, police departments, Social Services, District Attorney’s Office, hospitals and healthcare providers, businesses, farmers, churches, community organizations, municipalities, and state and federal partners.
The Sheriff cannot solve every problem alone. Strong partnerships will help us bring additional resources to Martin County, strengthen public safety, support our deputies, and build stronger relationships with the people we serve.
But a vision is only meaningful when it is followed by action. That is why my work will begin on Day One.
MY FIRST 30 DAYS
In my first 30 days as Sheriff, I will take immediate action to reconnect the Martin County Sheriff’s Office with the people it serves. I will personally meet with communities across Martin County to listen, learn, and understand their needs. Your voice will help shape the direction of our Sheriff’s Office.
Establish a Sheriff’s Chaplain Program: I will begin recruiting qualified volunteer chaplains from throughout Martin County through community outreach, local churches, social media, newspapers, and other outlets. I want chaplains who are willing to serve people from every part of our county.
Once established, we will introduce a “Let’s Talk” program to provide citizens who request it with someone to talk to during difficult times and access to spiritual support. For individuals who are looking for a church home, chaplains can also help connect them with local faith communities of their choosing.
Create a Citizens Advisory Committee: I will form a committee made up of citizens representing different areas of Martin County. This committee will provide community feedback, identify concerns, and help the Sheriff’s Office stay connected to the changing needs of the people we serve. I don't want to guess what our communities need—I want them to have a seat at the table.
Launch a Senior Welfare Check Program: Because we have many older residents in our communities, I will begin establishing a voluntary Senior Welfare Check Program. Senior citizens who choose to participate can sign up to receive regular welfare phone calls or visits.
This program will be about more than checking a name off a list. It will be about making sure our seniors are safe, connected, and know that someone cares. No senior in Martin County should feel forgotten or alone.
These initiatives share one purpose: bringing the Sheriff’s Office closer to the people. Whether you are a senior citizen living alone, a young person needing guidance, a family going through a difficult time, or simply a citizen who wants your voice heard, your Sheriff’s Office should be accessible to you.
To strengthen safety and visibility, I will assign a dedicated deputy to each area of our county. You deserve to know the person who is protecting your community.
And under my leadership, you will never see more than two deputies sitting in a restaurant at one time unless they are in training. Our deputies will be in the community, not gathered in one spot. Their presence will be where it matters most: with the people.
Within my first 90 days, I will establish a specialized SRT Special Response Team right here in Martin County.
Right now, when a dangerous situation happens, we often have to wait for outside agencies or neighboring counties to respond. That delay can cost precious minutes, and in emergencies, minutes matter. I believe in partnerships and strong networks, but I also believe that Martin County deserves the ability to protect itself without waiting to be rescued.
As taxpayers, you deserve to see your money at work protecting your families, your neighborhoods, and your peace of mind. My commitment is to build a highly trained, fast-response team that can reach our citizens quickly and professionally when it matters most.
I will also work to update our SRO uniforms and patrol vehicles to make them more community friendly.
Our School Resource Officers are the first line of safety and support for our students, and the way they present themselves matters. I want our young people to feel more welcomed, more comfortable, and more excited to interact with their deputies. Creating a friendly, approachable environment will help build trust, open communication, and stronger relationships between our youth and law enforcement. When students feel safe and connected, schools become stronger and our community becomes stronger. This is the kind of positive change I’m committed to bringing to Martin County.
We have many people in our community including our own family and friends who are fighting the battle of drug addiction. The truth is, if you don’t have insurance, most addiction treatment centers will not accept you. And because of that, people who want help often can’t get it. What happens next? They get arrested, sit in jail for a short time, and then go right back to the same struggle. It becomes a revolving door not because they’re bad people, but because they don’t have a pathway to recovery. As Sheriff, I will work to change that. I will seek out partnerships, programs, and grants that allow us to connect people with real treatment, real support, and real rehabilitation. Helping people break the cycle of addiction doesn’t just save lives it reduces crime, strengthens families, and makes our entire community safer.
We can enforce the law while still offering hope. And under my leadership, Martin County will do both.