Tyus S. Few is running for one of three at-large seats on the Halifax County Board of Commissioners as a challenger against Democratic incumbents Vernon Bryant and Chenoa Richardson Davis in the March 3 election. James E. Mills is also running for one of the seats. Three Republicans — incumbent Sammy Webb and challengers Chuck Hasty and John Whichard will be on the ballot in November and will face off against the top three Democrats from the March election.

The following are Few’s answers to questions submitted by rrspin.com:

Civic, church, and fraternal organizations: Board member, Halifax/ Northampton Airport Authority; Immediate past chairman, Halifax County Schools Board of Education; Shearins Chapel Baptist Church; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Education: BS, North Carolina A&T State University; MS, Educational Administration, North Carolina A&T State University; further administrative certifications, East Carolina University.

Why are you running, and what are your qualifications? 

Building a better future for everyone is my primary concern and focus. All citizens of Halifax County deserve the very best services that the County Government can provide. I have spent my entire professional life in Halifax County. I see the humanity and the hope in our community every day. 

We all started somewhere. I began my professional career in Halifax County as a teacher, then becoming a district director for many years at the Halifax County Schools Central Office where I directed programming for state and federal budgets. 

After retiring, I ran and was elected to the school board and served for many years and was elected chairman of the Board of Education most recently. During this time we oversaw and directed many initiatives. I was chair for the supplemental tax initiative and developed the strategic plan. The citizens overwhelmingly voted in favor for the supplement. The district and the children have benefitted tremendously.

As a County we will continue to move forward together. From Hobgood to Scotland Neck, Enfield and Hollister, Littleton and Lake Gaston, Roanoke Rapids, Halifax and Weldon. 

Leaders are problem solvers with a vision. We are your voice and hope for the future.

What are the most important issues facing Halifax County, and how will you address them? 

Yes, there are issues that face the citizens of Halifax County. We still rank low in comparison to other counties in Broadband Internet Access, Computer Device Access and K-12 Current Expense Funding for our school districts. 

Our detention center desperately needs expansion with 21st century infrastructure and technology included. I support expanding at the current location. Also, a salary study would help to ensure that our employees are paid competitively. This would allow the county to recruit and keep high quality personnel in the various county government departments. As we all know, our society is very competitive.

How should the county address the issue of aggregate mining? 

Aggregate mining has become a recent hot topic. The current site that was identified is not the best place for this entity. 

The Corporate Park was not developed for this type of business. Its proximity to citizens is an environmental hazard and the Halifax Northampton Regional Airport is too close for this type of business. It’s in the current landing pattern of the airport and would present a real hazard to incoming and departing aircraft and personnel. 

Halifax County is ranked number 5 in agricultural land out of 100 counties.  There may be some other area in the county that’s less populated and would not present a hazard to the environment, citizens and wildlife.

In June 2025, the county signed a memorandum of understanding with the town of Weldon regarding the construction of a new water treatment plant. Do you support this MOU? Do you support a regional effort with Northampton or other interested counties or towns? Would you support bringing the Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District into these discussions? Please elaborate.

As it pertains to the MOU regarding the new wastewater treatment plant for the city of Weldon; I have not seen the MOU and can’t speak about the request other than infrastructure for wastewater treatment is very important to the health of the citizens in Weldon and should be addressed and a conversation with the Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District may help in making a decision. I can’t speak about the cost because I haven’t seen any budgetary information or plans for any state or federal assistance.

Do you support the State Rail Plan? Do you support passenger rail service from Weldon to Raleigh? What would you do as a commissioner to see passenger rail service established in Weldon, and what do you see as its benefits? 

I support the State Rail Plan, but it appears to be long term — 30 years. However, it would be real beneficial to board an AMTRAK in Weldon. I would need additional information from our economic director to address further. There would have to be federal, state and local funding for extensive infrastructure planning to make this a reality.

The county recently hired its first parks and recreation director to lead a new department. What would your directives be for guiding the growth of this department? 

It’s very promising to have a parks and recreation director to lead a new department. It would even be more exciting if we could develop a complex for the county to meet this need for the recreation side of this department. Then all citizens would have access. You always start with a strategic plan.

What are your plans to make pay more competitive in the county — not only for law enforcement, but for county employees as a whole? 

I have been in positions of leadership for many years. You have to start with a strategic plan that addresses issues relating to competitive pay for law enforcement as well as county employees to ensure steps and years of service are addressed. It’s best done with an outside consultant that eventually presents the tables and recommendations.

Would you be willing to support a tax increase to fund county projects? 

In summary, there are always challenges in government. I do realize that you can’t always please everyone. Sometimes you experience constraints. It may be a policy, a North Carolina Statute or lack of adequate funds to fund an initiative. It is our responsibility to manage your tax dollars to provide the best service. All of the departments in Halifax County Government have a task to administer. If a tax increase is needed, the citizens should be involved with a referendum. 

It is important that the citizens of our county fully understand why a decision was made. Communication is very important. It’s mostly your tax dollars that runs the show.