Alamance County clerk of court Kristie M. Culler announces today that she will seek election to a full term as Alamance County’s clerk of superior court in 2026.
Alamance County senior resident superior court judge Andrew (“Andy”) Hanford appointed Culler in December 2024 to serve out the remaining two-year term of then-clerk of court Meredith Edwards following her elevation to the district court bench in last year’s general election. Culler’s current term as clerk runs through November 2026.
Culler, a Republican, had served as second-in-command to Edwards, a Republican who was elected to her first term as clerk of court in 2018.
A lifelong resident of Alamance County and graduate of Williams High School, Culler, 52, has more than 30 years of legal experience in the local courts system.
In addition to working for the Alamance County court system for 15 years, Culler previously worked in private practice for several attorneys, who include John Paisley, Jr. and R. Nelson Richardson of Graham; the Guilford County court system; and the Alamance County attorney’s office between the late 1990s and early 2000s. Her current and past legal experience includes real estate, family, personal injury, business, estates, and criminal law.
“Since being appointed as clerk of superior court, my goal has been to ensure a smooth transition following my predecessor, judge Meredith Edwards,” Culler told The Alamance News this week. “I have worked closely with our judicial partners to keep our courts running efficiently and effectively for the people we serve.”
Since taking office in January, Culler has implemented a new jury system to streamline the process and improve the experience for citizens.
“I’ve also continued to focus on staff training and professional development, ensuring our team stays current with the ever-changing laws, rules, and record-keeping requirements that come with this important office,” Culler told the newspaper.
The clerk of court has also continued her own legal training through the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and through the state’s Administrative Office of the Courts.
“We are at a pivotal moment with the rollout of North Carolina’s new eCourts system,” Culler elaborated. “While this technology is truly groundbreaking, it is still evolving, and the coming years will be crucial to improving and stabilizing it.
“Our community deserves a clerk who understands both the complexity of the system and the importance of public service,” the clerk added. “With my experience and deep knowledge of the clerk’s office, I am ready to lead through this transition and ensure our courts continue to serve the people of Alamance County with integrity, accuracy, and care.”
Hanford, a Democrat, emphasized Culler’s experience in announcing her appointment as clerk late last year. “Ms. Culler possesses a strong track record of leadership, dedication and commitment to ensuring the fair administration of justice,” the county’s senior resident superior court judge said at the time.
Culler and her husband Dean Culler – who retired in late 2023 as a lieutenant with the Alamance County sheriff’s department and now works part-time as a courtroom bailiff – live in Burlington.
No other Republican or Democratic candidates have announced their intention to enter the race for Alamance County clerk of court.
The filing period for partisan races that will be on the ballot for the March 3, 2026 primary opens at 12:00 p.m. Noon on Monday, December 1, 2025, and closes at 12:00 p.m. Noon on Friday, December 19, 2025, according to the State Board of Elections (SBE).
The filing period for nonpartisan races (and partisan races without a challenger) that will be on the ballot in the 2026 General Election has not yet been announced by the SBE.
