Personal
Tony Burnette has lived in Northampton County for over 20 years. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University and has worked in education for several years.

Tony Burnette (Northampton County Board of Education, North Carolina, candidate 2024)

Tony Burnette is a graduate of North Carolina State University.

Tony Burnette (Northampton County Sheriff, North Carolina ...

Biography
Tony Burnette has a background in law enforcement and community service. He has served in various capacities within the Northampton County Sheriff's Office and has been involved in local community initiatives aimed at improving public safety and community relations.

Tony Burnette (Northampton County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate 2026)

Tony Burnette has served in various capacities within the Northampton County Sheriff's Office.

Tony has served in various capacities within the Northampton County Sheriff's Office.

2026 North Carolina General Election

As of September 2, 2026, Tony Burnette did not have a website or any information online.

Public Safety

Jail Management

The article, published June 22, 2016, described a planned Journey to Justice rally. Tony Burnette, then Northampton County NAACP president, said: “The mission is to the keep the victims in the public spotlight and to ask support from the district attorney to help us create a task force to be dedicated to focus on the missing and unsolved murder cases in each county along with different jurisdictions to get moving and make some arrests,” said Northampton County NAACP President Tony Burnette.

RRSpin - Rally to call on DA for assistance in missing person cases

In the June 22, 2016 article, Burnette discussed missing and unsolved murder cases. The article states: Burnette believes “if everyone involved comes together, puts our heads together, we can come up with something. You could get someone retired to work these cases, take somebody to work nothing but these cases, get a fresh set of eyes and ears and retrace the steps to get to the core of the matter. That's what it's going take. There are 12 people in the Roanoke Valley whose families have no closure. For the area we live in, that's a tragedy.”

In the June 22, 2016 article, following his comments on dedicating personnel to missing and unsolved-murder cases, Burnette said: “We're calling on our DA to support the families on these cases and to take that leadership role and to move these different agencies to bring pressure and try to find out what happened. We really need her to take the lead role in trying to get something done.”

Burnette said the group planned to meet every six weeks after its meeting with families of missing people and law-enforcement representatives. He said: “We're going to continue to support the families. We're committed to stand by these families every step of the way. We're hoping and praying their stories will touch someone's heart and help families find closure.”

Families of missing get pledges for help

Advocates for a task force focused on missing-person and unsolved-murder cases across jurisdictions.

Advocates for dedicated investigators, including retired personnel, to reinvestigate missing-person and unsolved-murder cases.

Calls for the district attorney to lead coordination among agencies investigating missing-person and unsolved-murder cases.

Pledges to support families of missing people and help them seek closure.

- Advocates for a task force focused on missing-person and unsolved-murder cases across jurisdictions.
- Advocates for dedicated investigators, including retired personnel, to reinvestigate missing-person and unsolved-murder cases.
- Calls for the district attorney to lead coordination among agencies investigating missing-person and unsolved-murder cases.
- Pledges to support families of missing people and help them seek closure.

Criminal Justice

Tony Burnette

As of September 2, 2026, Tony Burnette’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Mauricio Mendez

Walter Ley

Jack E. Smith

- 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. 