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You asked: What are the qualifications to be eligible to run for sheriff?

COURTLAND—There’s only three requirements to run for sheriff in Virginia.

A candidate must have lived in the state for one year, must reside in the county where they are running and be a registered voter.

“That’s about it,” said Southampton County Voter Registrar Leona Davis.

In Southampton County, the sheriff is paid $85,000 a year. In Isle of Wight County, the jobs pays $80,209 annually.

In Davis’ 23 years with the voter registration office in Courtland, she said to her knowledge all candidates for sheriff had backgrounds in police work.

This election season is no different.

Southampton County Sheriff candidates Jack Stutts, Brian Marvel and David Holland all have worked in law enforcement.

A Democrat, Stutts is the chief deputy with the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office. He has been with the sheriff’s office for 30 years and resides in the Forks in the River area of the county.

Marvel, 37, of Drewryville has 11 years law enforcement experience, including a total of nine years with sheriff’s departments in Portsmouth and Isle of Wight County. He is currently a Franklin police officer and is running as an independent.

Holland, 56, of Drewryville is a retired assistant commander for the Fairfax Police Department and has served as director of Southside Community Corrections and Pretrial Services in Emporia since May 2002. He will run as an independent.

Viki Lonsdale, assistant registrar for Isle of Wight County, said the qualifications for sheriff are basically the same for other county offices.

“For commissioner of revenue and treasurer, you don’t have to have a degree in anything,” Lonsdale said. “You rely on voters to make the right decision and to do their homework.”

Isle of Wight’s three candidates for sheriff also have police backgrounds.

Independent incumbent C.W. “Charlie” Phelps is seeking his seventh, four-year term.

Independent Mark Marshall, the 52-year-old police chief for Smithfield, has 25 years experience in law enforcement, including 18 years in his current position.

Hampton Police Lt. James “Jim” Crotts, 50, has been employed by that city’s public safety department for 29 years. Crotts is running as an Independent.

The primary is set for Aug. 23 and the election will be Nov. 8.