Letter to Voters

Welcome to my website! Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share a little bit about myself and my campaign for election as Sheriff in Grafton County.

I moved to Grafton County when I was in high school in the 80s, graduating from the Holderness Prep School in 1989. After college, where I obtained a degree in business administration with a minor in finance from Roger Williams University I had one of my first jobs working door at a bar, checking IDs. Little did I know then that the skills obtained talking with people there and the relationships developed with the local law enforcement officers would spark a career path. In 1995 I began my career and served nearly 7 years with the Waterville Valley Department of Safety before getting hired by the Grafton County Sheriff’s Department in 2002. I spent over 21 years working full time, moving through the ranks at the Sheriff’s Department while being married and raising my family in Grafton County. While raising my family I volunteered as a lacrosse coach and president of the Plymouth Youth Lacrosse Program and coached youth hockey for the Plymouth Predators.

During my tenure at the Sheriff’s Department I am proud of the work that we have done over these last 22 years but will never be satisfied with the past and must always strive to be better in the future. There are statutory requirements of the office of the Sheriff but those are only just starting points, I will never be satisfied with the minimum and hold myself and those who work around me to a higher standard. To be a successful Sheriff and leader you must possess more than experience, you must be able to connect with staff, motivate them and encourage them to do great things. When a group of people have unified vision and goal great things may be achieved. We can be better, we will be better! This campaign is not about me, it is not about one person but rather its about teamwork and what we as an organization and as a community can accomplish. It is about family and keeping our communities safe so that the quality of life in our little corner of the world is not jeopardized.

Should I be elected to Sheriff of Grafton County I will work to serve our residents, guests and my partners, to continue to develop this agency as a great resource, chasing evil and providing professional and non-biased services to our region. I am the only candidate who has moved up through all the ranks of the Sheriff’s Department, the only one who has been in the trenches pursuing evil and the corrupt, and who has held both public officials and employees accountable. 

Please come out and vote on the upcoming election days.  If I am not on your ballot, I encourage and seek your support to write my name in on the ballot you have chosen.  

Respectfully,

Frederic "FJ" James

Aka: Eric, FJ Smash