RAISING THE BAR
The conservative choice for the citizens of moore and hoke counties
PROVEN
EXPERIENCE
Since 2021, Sharlene has served Moore County as an Associate County Attorney representing the Department of Social Services. Sharlene has handled hundreds of distinct child welfare matters in district court affecting the lives of countless children in Moore County.
Her over 25 years of experience are put to good use on a daily basis.
TESTED
LEADERSHIP
Sharlene leads abuse, neglect and dependency court each week managing the docket and cases to ensure timely hearings.
In 2022, she achieved her Child Welfare Specialist Certification—a rigorous process requiring testing, over 500 hours of child welfare experience, letters of recommendation from every judge she regularly appears before and at least six practicing attorneys, all attesting to her professional excellence.
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT
Sharlene actively participates in numerous interdisciplinary teams and task forces throughout Moore County, collaborating closely with various agencies to advocate for and secure the best possible outcomes for abused and neglected children as well as vulnerable adults.
Her tireless commitment ensures immediate intervention and positive outcomes, prioritizing the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable adults in the community.
MEET
SHARLENE
Sharlene Gilmer Anderson grew up as an Army brat, the daughter of Colonel (ret.) Michael Swift Gilmer and the late Theresa Leigh Meagher. During her youth, she lived in Utah, Washington, Germany, and Texas.
She graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1996. While attending BYU, Sharlene worked as a night manager at a local domestic violence shelter. After graduation, she began law school at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, in the fall of 1996. Following her first year, she spent the summer studying international law at the University of Innsbruck in Austria and traveling throughout Europe. Upon returning, she transferred to the J. Reuben Clark School of Law at BYU, completing her second and third years and graduating in 1999.
After law school, Sharlene successfully passed the Commonwealth of Virginia Bar Exam in 1999 and began her career as a Government Relations Attorney for Novell, Inc. in Washington, D.C. She focused on privacy issues, software piracy, and antitrust litigation. She moved back to Utah with her husband, where she had her first child and passed the Utah Bar Exam in 2001 when her son was just a few months old.
Sharlene had her daughter while her husband, an Army officer, was away. Over the next 15 years, their family frequently relocated, living at Fort Drum (New York), Fort Huachuca (Arizona), Fort Lewis (Washington), Fort Meade (Maryland), Fort Leavenworth (Kansas), and finally settling at Fort Bragg (North Carolina) in 2015. Sharlene raised the children and worked as a contract attorney, high school English teacher and volunteer while her husband was deployed on a very regular basis.
Sharlene and her children chose Moore County, North Carolina as their forever home. After passing the North Carolina Bar Exam, Sharlene established her own law practice in 2017 and worked as a solo practitioner until joining the Moore County Attorney’s Office as an Assistant County Attorney in February 2021. In her current role, she primarily handles legal matters involving Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services within the Moore County Department of Social Services.
Sharlene’s three children graduated from Pinecrest High School. Her oldest son, Logan, graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2022 and currently works for Epic Systems in Madison, Wisconsin. Her daughter, Emma, is set to graduate from UNC Charlotte in May 2025 and will be working as a civil servant for the Federal government. Her youngest son, Trenton, recently returned from a two-year mission in the Philippines and is now studying at BYU.
A devoted Christian, Sharlene spent six years teaching early morning scripture study to groups of 20-30 teenagers while her children were in high school. Currently, she serves as the President of the Young Women’s organization for her church, supporting girls aged 12-18. In her spare time, Sharlene enjoys Pilates, gardening and baking ginger cookies for her friends at work.
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Count the Reasons
Why cast your vote for Sharlene?
#1
PROVEN
EXPERIENCE
Sharlene has been a licensed attorney since 1999 with three state licenses (Virginia, Utah and North Carolina). Since 2021, Sharlene has served Moore County as an Associate County Attorney representing the Department of Social Services. Sharlene has handled hundreds of distinct child welfare matters in district court affecting the lives of countless children in Moore County. In addition to her representation of DSS in abuse, neglect and dependency court, she also works with attorneys and handles or assists on cases in child support, adoption, family law (child custody, etc), criminal (district and superior), incompetency, protection orders (domestic violence and adult exploitation), IVC, juvenile justice, guardianship and estates. Sharlene handles all appellate matters filed in child welfare related cases on behalf of DSS, reviews any contracts and counsels on employment and administrative issues within the department. Her over 25 years of experience are put to good use on a daily basis.
#2
TESTED
LEADERSHIP
Sharlene leads abuse, neglect and dependency court each week managing the docket and cases to ensure timely hearings. She collaborates closely with social workers, reviewing their cases weekly to provide essential legal guidance and strategic oversight, ensuring children and adults are safe from abuse, neglect and exploitation, effective case management and positive outcomes. In 2022, she achieved her Child Welfare Specialist Certification—a rigorous process requiring testing, over 500 hours of child welfare experience, letters of recommendation from every judge she regularly appears before and at least six practicing attorneys, all attesting to her professional excellence. Sharlene is frequently sought out by DSS attorneys across the state for her expertise and insight on complex child welfare matters. She is also an accomplished speaker, regularly being asked by organizations such as the Moore County Bar Association, Southmountain Children and Family Services, and Friend to Friend to present and speak at CLEs, fundraisers, trainings and conferences on critical topics including witness preparation for medical providers in child abuse cases, managing secondary trauma among first responders, and recent developments in child welfare law. Since 2022, Sharlene has also served as President of the Young Women's organization at her church, mentoring girls aged 12-18 weekly to support their spiritual growth, educational achievements, physical health, and social development.
#3
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT
Sharlene actively participates in numerous interdisciplinary teams and task forces throughout Moore County, collaborating closely with various agencies to advocate for and secure the best possible outcomes for abused and neglected children as well as vulnerable adults. She is an integral member of the Child Advocacy Center Multi-Disciplinary Team, which convenes weekly to comprehensively review and strategize on every reported case of child physical and sexual abuse in Moore County. Additionally, she serves on the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force, providing her expertise and leadership to address these critical community concerns. Sharlene is recognized widely for her unwavering dedication, consistently responding promptly and effectively whenever social workers, law enforcement officials, and medical providers require assistance. Her tireless commitment ensures immediate intervention and positive outcomes, prioritizing the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable adults in the community.
MY
VISION
"…[S]uccess or failure will be conditioned upon the way in which the average man, the average woman, does his or her duty, first in the ordinary, every-day affairs of life, and next in those great occasional cries which call for heroic virtues."
– Theodore Roosevelt, Man in the Arena
Committed to "Raising the Bar," I believe in integrity, fairness, and steadfast adherence to conservative legal principles, protection of our most vulnerable and the following the law. The phrase "raising the bar" traces back to the physical railing or "bar" in the courtroom that separates judges and attorneys from the public, symbolizing the high standards and professionalism required within the legal field. This physical bar gave rise to the naming of law organizations as "bar associations," dedicated to maintaining ethical excellence and accountability among legal practitioners. With proven experience, tested leadership, and unwavering conservative values, I pledge to uphold justice firmly rooted in constitutional principles, protect the rule of law, and strengthen or regain public trust. I believe in a higher standard for our judges, securing a judiciary grounded in respect, responsibility, and enduring values and discarding unseemly politics and questionable ethics.
Raising the Bar Together
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