[Photo: Carlton Barber (Submitted photo)]

A man who attended Hoke County High School and today is a gospel singer and minister, announced this week he plans to seek election to the Hoke County Board of Commissioners in 2022.

Carlton Barber, an evangelist and owner of In Ya Faith Ministries, recently filed with the Hoke County Board of Elections to open his campaign. He is seeking election next year to one of three seats on the county board that will be up for vote, currently occupied by incumbents Chairman Harry Southerland, Vice Chairman Allen Thomas and Commissioner Tony Hunt.

Barber is married to his wife and fellow gospel singer, Wanda Barber. He also operates In Ya Faith Gospel Promotions and Media Company, In Ya Faith Gospel Magazine and has his own show on Roku.

Barber said in a campaign statement he is running “to improve Hoke County’s Transit System and add safety measurers to protect our youth at schools here in Hoke.” The candidate further stated he wants to improve the way the community addresses homelessness, by “working on a much needed shelter and a program with the shelter that will help get those people gainful employment so they can stand on their own two feet,” Barber wrote in an email.

Barber noted he plans not to take payment if he wins election to the board.

His campaign website is available at https://electbarber4hokeco.wixsite.com/commiss. He can be reached by phone at (704) 441-7595 or by email at iyfmedia2016@gmail.com.

Barber additionally said he planned to dedicate his campaign to his grandfather, Steve Keaton, who passed away this week.

No county offices are up for vote in fall 2021, as this is a municipal election year. Two seats on the Raeford City Council, currently occupied by incumbents Wayne Willis and Charles Allen, will be up for election this year. Many more local offices will be on the ballot in 2022.