About Ray Campbell
Professional Experience
Law Enforcement Officer (2010 - Present)
Paper Mill Worker
School Resource Officer
Patrol Deputy

Election Information
Recent Candidacies

Ray Campbell - BallotReady

Ray Campbell currently works as a law enforcement officer. He has also worked as a school resource officer, patrol deputy, and paper mill worker.

Ray Campbell | BallotReady

Office Holder/Candidate Profile
Ray Campbell
Currently holds the office of Gates County Sheriff until December 31, 2026.
Candidate for Gates County Sheriff in 2026 North Carolina General Election.

Ray currently serves as Gates County Sheriff through December 31, 2026.

2026 North Carolina General Election

The Gates County Sheriff’s Office turned data from the sign into the state traffic engineer who Campbell said he is working with to drop the speed limit on the road to 35 mph. “He’s got enough data and enough proof and I’ve got enough leverage to make it happen because I’ve got page after page of vehicles coming through there, through a 45 mph at mid-70s.”

Radar Speed Signs: A Small Solution to a Big Problem

Campbell said the 911 dispatch center is down about half of its employees due to some leaving for other jobs or because they’re off on medical leave.

“I do intend to bring the center back. I just need about five or six full-time, certified dispatchers and we’re off and running,” he said. “That’s asking for a lot I know.”

Staffing shortage prompts 911 changes in Gates County

Campbell says that he’d recommend the device to other agencies similar to his. “I’d tell any agency, or sheriff’s office, that if you’ve got a small town and you’ve got a problem with speeders coming through and you don’t have the ability to set a unit out there with radar and write tickets all day long, this thing works. The selling point for the sign is it’s so easy to set up. You run it off your phone, you change the times and it’s very easy to move from place to place.”

GATESVILLE – Gates County Sheriff Ray Campbell is advising local citizens of a scam involving his department.
“Recently, we’ve been made aware of scammers calling citizens and impersonating our deputies,” Campbell said. “The scammers are portraying themselves as deputies in order to get you to pay a fine or bond amount over the phone. The scammers are attempting to make you believe you’ve missed jury duty.”

Gates County Sheriff warns of scam - Gates County Index | Gates County Index

Campbell said deputies may call about a warrant or a process, but they will never ask anyone to pay anything over the phone.

“You can always check and ensure there is an actual process against you by contacting the Gates County Clerk of Court,” Campbell said.

“Or you can always contact our non-emergency communications office (252-426-5751) and ask them to let you speak to one of our deputies.”

The operational impact is on the verge of getting worse, he added.

“Next year this time, I don’t know. I can’t tell you, yes we’re going to have a full fleet of vehicles if we don’t start replacing vehicles. I have two openings for deputies. If I were to hire two more, I don’t have a vehicle to issue them,” Campbell said.

7 law enforcement officers were shot in 3 weeks in N.C.

Works with the state traffic engineer to lower a road's speed limit using data from radar speed signs.

Plans to restore the local 911 dispatch center after hiring five or six full-time certified dispatchers.

Advocates for radar speed signs as a tool for small towns to address speeding when they cannot dedicate officers to traffic enforcement.

Warns residents about scammers impersonating deputies to seek payment for supposed fines, bonds, or missed jury duty.

Said patrol-vehicle replacements are needed to maintain the fleet and equip additional deputies.

- Works with the state traffic engineer to lower a road's speed limit using data from radar speed signs.
- Plans to restore the local 911 dispatch center after hiring five or six full-time certified dispatchers.
- Advocates for radar speed signs as a tool for small towns to address speeding when they cannot dedicate officers to traffic enforcement.
- Warns residents about scammers impersonating deputies to seek payment for supposed fines, bonds, or missed jury duty.
- Said patrol-vehicle replacements are needed to maintain the fleet and equip additional deputies.

Public Safety

As of April 6, 2026, Ray Campbell did not have a website or any information online.

Jail Management

“We had been watching him for over two weeks and had received some complaints from neighbors about suspicious activity at his residence,” Campbell said. “We gained enough information to obtain a search warrant, which we executed at his residence at around 5:30 p.m. last Friday (June 14).”

Gates County Sheriff seizes heroin capsules

“We have worked hard since I became sheriff to build back the trust of our citizens; we’ve come a long way in a short period of time to develop a good rapport with our citizens,” Campbell noted. “They are giving us good intel and that makes our jobs a lot easier. We appreciate the info we are getting from our citizens and encourage them to continue.”

As sheriff, conducted a narcotics investigation that led to a search warrant after receiving neighbor complaints and gathering information.

Encourages residents to share information with the sheriff's office as part of efforts to build trust and support investigations.

- As sheriff, conducted a narcotics investigation that led to a search warrant after receiving neighbor complaints and gathering information.
- Encourages residents to share information with the sheriff's office as part of efforts to build trust and support investigations.

Criminal Justice

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Ray Campbell

- Plans to restore the local 911 dispatch center after hiring five or six full-time certified dispatchers.
- Advocates for radar speed signs as a tool for small towns to address speeding when they cannot dedicate officers to traffic enforcement.
- Warns residents about scammers impersonating deputies to seek payment for supposed fines, bonds, or missed jury duty.
- Said patrol-vehicle replacements are needed to maintain the fleet and equip additional deputies.

As of April 6, 2026, Ray Campbell’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Degrees

Bachelor's, Atlantic Christian College

## Election Information

Ray Campbell earned a bachelor's degree from Atlantic Christian College.

Professional Experience

Law Enforcement Officer (2010 - Present)

Paper Mill Worker

School Resource Officer

Patrol Deputy

Degrees

Professional Experience

Law Enforcement Officer (2010 - Present)

Paper/Mill Worker

School Resource Officer

Patrol Deputy

Ray Campbell currently works as a law enforcement officer. He previously worked as a paper mill worker, a school resource officer, and a patrol deputy.

Local Elected Officials
Title Name E-Mail Address Term Ends

Sherriff

Ray Campbell (D)

savagefan4ever2011@yahoo.com

2026

Local Officials | Gates County, North Carolina

Tuesday, November 29, 2022 November 08, 2022 General Statewide Election Results by County

GATES GATES COUNTY CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT Marsha Faulk Langston UNA 1,387 798 563 26 0
GATES COUNTY SHERIFF Ray Campbell DEM 3,509 1,723 1,693 91 2
GATES SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

SKM_C250i22112913260

Ray currently serves as Gates County sheriff. He was elected in 2022.

Sheriff's Office - Gates County, NC

2026_general_candidate_list_by_contest.pdf

Says the sheriff's office will keep residents informed about scams.

Recommends portable radar speed signs to address speeding where agencies lack the capacity for full-time radar enforcement.

Uses newly acquired technology and equipment to support arrests.

Ray is the sheriff for Gates County. He works at the Gates County Sheriff’s Office, where he oversees daily law enforcement operations, manages the county’s patrol deputies and aging patrol car fleet.

County administrative offices reopen

Embezzlement investigation leads to vehicle pursuit and arrest

7 law enforcement officers were shot in 3 weeks in N.C. - WTKR

Ray Campbell currently serves as the sheriff of Gates County.

Gates County, North Carolina, elections, 2022 - Ballotpedia

Supports providing more support for law enforcement in Gates County.

Ray is the Sheriff of Gates County. He works at the Gates County Sheriff’s Office. Details of his previous professional experience are not publicly available.

Ray Campbell is currently the Gates County Sheriff. He was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term.

Ray is currently the sheriff of Gates County.

Believes law enforcement is not receiving enough support.

Ray is the Sheriff at the Gates County Sheriff’s Office.

Ray Campbell is the Sheriff of Gates County.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

- The sheriff is responsible for enforcing the law, managing security in jails and courtrooms. They also oversee daily conditions of the jail and inmates in custody and serve legal documents such as warrants and eviction notices. Their ultimate responsibility is to protect the community. 

Responsible for enforcing the law and overseeing jails. 