No Democrats are running in the race, which means whoever is elected in the May 17 primary will likely be the incoming sheriff to take office at the end of the year. The five candidates are Bob Cook, Brent Holbrooks, Dereck E. Jones, Chris Browning and Clay Bryson. If I says I will accomplish something, I will make every effort to get it done. He said all professions have bad apples and some young people are growing up with a negative impression of law enforcement. Were going to get out there and do our jobs like were supposed to, he said. I hear that everywhere I go, he said. Bob Cook said he isnt running for sheriff as a career move. He said a cadet program held when kids are out of school during the summer will help build relationships with youth. It's not a new car just big thoughts on planet Earth, Look up! Items below are placed at the cadidates request, in the order received. He said none of the candidates, including himself, know all the daily responsibilities that come with being sheriff. Absolutely for more bed space. A recount has been called for in the Macon County Sheriff's race. In addition to his law enforcement experience Holbrooks said his personality and passion for getting to know the public will be a benefit he brings to the office if elected. Filing Date. He joined the Navy in August 1972 during the Viet Nam War and remained in the Navy until August 1992 during the Gulf War. Early voting is underway across the state. Any race decided less than a percentage point can head to a recount if requested. I want to further our agency just as Sheriff Holland has worked to do for many years. Name on Ballot. He plans to be out in the community where people can see him and get to know him. The Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School girls basketball team made history again Saturday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, winning the programs first back-to-back state championship title. Browning said leadership is key in recruiting and keeping officers. Bryson said education and the cadet program is a way to draw interest to the profession. Dereck Jones began his law enforcement career in 2005 and has worked his way through the ranks, currently serving as a captain and jail administrator. Answer from candidate 2 It absolutely needs to be replaced, but we need to plan for the future.. The SROs are vigilant; they keep their eyes open, he said. Jones said he is humbled by the support Macon County has shown him from the time he was a child, and he wants to help set an example as others did for him. When citizens ask questions, respond to them, within the law, he said. He also plans on continuing to make the K9 units a priority. I want the voters to know they can rely on me. Melanie Thibault is director of the Macon County Board of Elections. Box 629, Waynesville, NC 28786 828.452.4251. They felt disenfranchised and saw what they considered as the good old boy club being treated differently than everyone else. Cook: While it is difficult to pick between the Detention Center and Patrol, the strongest area of the department appears to be the patrol division. Perform a free Macon County, NC public arrest records search, including current & recent arrests, arrest inquiries, warrants, reports, logs, and mugshots. My wife Ariel and I have been married since 2014 and currently reside in the Cullasaja Community of Macon County. You need somebody that has experience in this field., He wants to partner with federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Jones: Combating the drug epidemic, community relations/partnerships, and training in specific areas. He said competitive wages are helpful in recruitment and keeping officers. As such, I have had to learn to step back and look at whatever the situation is and think outside the box to develop a successful plan of attack. Official community group for the Macon County NC Sheriff's Election. Since 2012, hes also trained canines not only for MCSO but also other regional agencies. I also worked the Multi-Agency Narcotics Unit a little less than a year, where I bought an array of drugs in western North Carolina. I am a member of the Cullasaja Fire Department and have seen firsthand the integral role our volunteer fire departments and community centers have within our communities. He also spent approximately 14 years working in Narcotics where I was also on the Violent Crimes Task Force and the DEA Task Force. In 2018, he was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant and became the detention center administrator. In Macon, Cherokee and Clay Counties the sheriff's races were decided during the Republican primaries with no candidates from the other parties. I give you my word that it will be printed exactly how it is submitted. Answer from candidate 4 Sheriff Brent Holbrooks - 2368 (32.21 percent) Winner Dereck E. Jones - 2314 (31.57 percent) Clay Bryson - 1123 (15.32 percent) During his career he has spoken to communities about crime prevention techniques, spent time working with community and school programs, and currently serves as an instructor for the Sheriffs Office Citizens Academy. Among the sheriffs retiring in Western North Carolina who will leave big shoes to fill is Macon County's Robert Holland, who has served in that position for almost two decades. Dereck Jones and his wife Jessica who works as a public health nurse have three children. The drug problem in Macon County and surrounding areas is epidemic. He says increasing community patrols will be important in curbing the drug issues as well as other criminal activity. To view listings in your area, search by state below. I dont think his command staff that he currently has would necessarily be my command staff, he said, adding that he would make other staffing changes. Check your voter registration status Learn about registering to vote Contact your county board of elections Common Cause NC Your email address will not be published. Since moving to the area, hes worked at the police academy in Franklin as a training coordinator, a position he resigned to run for sheriff. During that time, he says he has seen from the outside how the Sheriffs Office operates and has a general idea of how theyre doing things. Individuals and organizations had 60-days for final objections on the plan but only if they had previously commented. Holbrooks wants to foster a positive work culture within the department and continue to advocate for competitive pay. Jones: I have been blessed to have worked with some really good law enforcement professionals over the years while on patrol and in investigations. I think we need to get ours back up to what it needs to be. Cook also wants to review safety protocols for the jail and the courthouse. Cook retired after earning the rank of Chief Petty Officer with Surface Warfare Qualifications. Bryson said Macon County is his home, his children and grandchild are growing up here and he is dedicated to providing them a safe community to grow up in. We can strengthen the response in several ways. The transition period will be so important, he said. He said extra patrolling will also be helpful in fighting the drug problem, because the people running and dealing drugs like to hang out in places where they dont see patrols. It just happens to be a political position, but I am elected by the people and always for the people. Many were close races. In our spare time, we enjoy spending time outdoors and with our family. He said by reaching kids at an early age, you can begin sowing the mindset of giving back to community. He says he will be running as a Republican candidate. If elected he plans to invite the commissioners and other officials to tour the jail. Its the highest liability position, and during the last three and a half years, Ive had the opportunities administratively to work on the budget with the chief deputy, Jones said. Five Republican candidates are vying to be the next sheriff of Macon County. Brent Holbrooks is a lieutenant at the MCSO who has been with the office about 23 years. Right now, we are trying to work with the county and schedule a time to have this done.. The following is a combination of information from in-person interviews each candidate did with The Franklin Press and answers they provided via a questionnaire from The Press. I will make sure my office is providing coverage to outlying communities. View campaign finance documents for any committee registered with the State Board by searching key words for the title of the committee or the name of the candidate, or find penalties assessed to state committees at the Campaign Document Search by Entity. Sheriff Robbie Holland, who is retiring this year, told BPR that he would be happy if any of the current officers were elected. DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Macon County Sheriff Jim Root has announced he will run for reelection in 2022. These things, Im very passionate about. North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) PO Box 27255 Raleigh NC 27611-7255. . Born and raised in Newton, Iowa, Cook joined the Navy in 1972 and served until 1992 as a personnel specialist. Were building leaders not just for today, but for tomorrow.. Clay Bryson Crime has gotten so much worse, but we are doing so much. But for those who do not, I wanted to give you a glimpse into who I am and why I am requesting your support. During interviews and appearances at several recent forums, all five candidates agree the drug problem is the number one issue facing the county. They may not be driving straight up 441 but instead following one of the many backroads in and out of the county. Just like criminal enterprise is constantly evolving, so is law enforcement and I want to ensure that we evolve quicker and smarter for the betterment of my friends and neighbors., Cook: I am running for office because I see a need for a course correction. He is also employed as an adjunct instructor of law enforcement training at Southwestern Community College where he instructs Basic Law Enforcement Training cadets, National Park Service, in-service training, and anything else at the request of the college. The men and women who make up the agency from administrative units, to courthouse security or from patrol to investigations are dedicated to making Macon County better not only for their families, but for yours and for mine. of Cos. Welcome to the Macon County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, serving Franklin, Highlands and Nantahala Macon County, NC Sheriff's Office | Franklin NC Im big on community involvement and bringing our youth up to know and to show school-age children who we are.. Cooks final duty station was in the Jacksonville area, where he chose to stay and pursue a career in law enforcement. This is where I grew up; where my children and grandchildren are growing up. NC Macon democratic party is to support ours believes that the government is to support the people. Holbrooks said while he may not know every aspect that goes into running the Sheriffs Office, he will surround himself with others who can help him learn. I am also committed to moving Macon County forward into the future and making it a model department for all Western North Carolina. Address. Bryson: The drug tragedy in Macon County continues to grow; drug dealers are advancing quicker than law enforcement resources can evolve and it seems like we are always one step behind. Answer from candidate 3 Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. Its county seat is Pittsboro.. Chatham County is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Combined Statistical Area, which has a . During my time in law enforcement, I had the pleasure of doing just about anything an officer can do, from patrol to traffic to evidence processing to community policing to investigating burglary and economic crimes, he added. That would give me one more per shift for a total of six. Im not knocking what arrests are being done right now, he said. This proactive approach, outside of the day-to-day in-school role of an SRO will increase the responsibility of SROs to be entire community representatives. Holbrooks: My name is Brent and I am running for Sheriff of Macon County 2022. Waynesville is Haywood Countys only municipal government that elects all of its members, A group of Macon County residents and library patrons attended a Feb. 7 library board, Theres some truth to the old clich that one readily recognizable sound is the ultimate, As Macon County looks ahead to fiscal year 2023-24, the county has big decisions to make. Unlike the three other candidates mentioned in this story, Bob Cook came to Macon County a bit later in life. I will promise to always give my best effort . Those residents deserve the same response and service from the Macon County Sheriffs Office as someone who lives in the center of town. Bryson: With Sheriff Hollands announcement that he will be retiring at the end of his current term, after much prayer and with the support of my family, I decided that I wanted to be part of progressing the sheriffs office forward. Weve got to reach out.. I know that I cant always be by their side, so what better way to protect them than to work for an agency that allows you to face the evil in our communities head-on. Venus and Jupiter are going in for a nighttime kiss, Santorum joins North Carolina House GOP to push convention, UNCG School of Nursing plans to move its Ph.D. program entirely online, Author Kate Zernike dissects the years-long fight for gender equality at MIT, Graham and Jackson Counties vote in runoff elections, Judge releases dashcam video of Cawthorn driving while his license was revoked, The Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan received about 800 eligible objections, heres what happens now, Reaction to Cawthorn's move varies across WNC, Lost or forgotten no more: Incarcerated Black laborers that built WNC railroad memorialized. DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - A new candidate is now in the running for Macon County Sheriff. I want to get into office, make the changes necessary and train the leaders of tomorrow within my agency.. Macon County Sheriff Chris Browning (R) Clay Bryson (R) Bob Cook (R) Brent Holbrooks (R) Dereck E. Jones (R) School board elections and candidates November 8, 2022 (General) Macon County Schools May 17, 2022 (Primary) Macon County Schools Judicial elections and candidates November 8, 2022 (General) There are five GOP candidates on the ballot: Bob Cook, Brent Holbrooks, Dereck Jones, Chris Browning. Candidates were asked to provide a short bio and were asked the same questions. The honest truth is, no, we arent exactly where we need to be, but I want to continue to build on what so many in this department have worked hard to create. Weve got to do what we can and deal with them appropriately when they get here.. rowan county nc mugshots 2020 27 Feb. rowan county nc mugshots 2020. Because they are our most valuable asset, it is imperative that we find ways to incentivize our agency and make the retention and recruitment of employees a priority, otherwise, we will continue to put time and money into training new officers only for them to leave to go to other agencies. Thousands of incarcerated laborers built this railroad and nearly all of them were African American. That is why I plan to constantly seek out grants and funding opportunities to make mental health resources and substance abuse treatment more readily available and accessible in Western North Carolina. And I am confident that one of the most important ways of doing that is to continue fighting the war on drugs. Related to community partnerships is educating youth not only about the dangers such as drug use, but also showing them opportunities available. The Macon County Board of Elections confirmed that Republican Dereck Jones requested a recount after coming in second place in the primary election by just 54 votes. They are often the first faces our youngest community members meet and may be the first law enforcement officers our children encounter. He says transparency is a pretty easy problem to fix. He said while Macon County remains a small community, we are growing and with that comes more and more problems. This election and change of administration is not about reinventing the wheel, but about putting the right person in office to move this county forward. We dont want youth to think we are unapproachable; if they need help, they can come to us. I want to look at what can be done without costing a lot of money and to be a good steward of taxpayer money, he said. Brent Holbrooks It is much different than it was when my grandfather and father both served or even when I began my career 22 years ago. I am the only candidate who can confidently stand on my record as a law enforcement officer in Macon County. In addition to his current role overseeing jail operations, Jones also highlighted his other collateral duties, such as his involvement with Special Olympics, Project Lifesaver (a community safety program that makes it easier to find missing individuals with conditions like autism or dementia), mental health task force and the safe schools task force. Everything evolves around drug use property crimes, assaults, domestic violence, he said. He also said a larger facility built to code would give the county the opportunity to make money housing federal inmates. I have been asked many times by many people why I dont go somewhere else to make more money and the answer is simple Macon County is my home. I want to work with other agencies around the area (city and county), state, and federal agencies and pool our resources to combat the ever growing drug problem. As such, I have experience in making hand to hand drug buys for a $20.00 crack or heroin purchase to as much as multiple kilogram amounts of methamphetamine. The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. law enforcement today has changed! As I have noted, I have spent approximately 14 years as an undercover Narcotics Detective. Hear poetry from NC's poet laureate. You never know where WUNC's events will take you. Macon County Sheriff candidates Jon L. Butts, Jim Root, and Tony "Chubby" Brown all lieutenants with the sheriff's office address the crowd during the NAACP Decatur Branch's. Its another way to reach people.. Bryson said incarceration is not going to solve all the problems related to the drug epidemic. Some of you know me as Deputy Holbrooks and more recently as Lieutenant Holbrooks, others know me as COACH. I worked for the of Franklin While I eagerly awaited my 21 birthday, when I could begin the BLET program. Persons must be registered What specific areas within the existing department can be changed in terms of budgetary items to fund additional officers in Nantahala, is it even possible? In January 2005 Bryson received his first promotion within the agency and has spent the last 21 years working in various capacities and now serves as Captain over Patrol. Theres going to be a learning curve for everybody, he said. His education program would include more trained School Resource Officers, including a roving K9 unit and K9 demonstrations in the schools. Bryson said drugs would obviously be a top concern for his administration, but he wont promise to take all drugs off the streets, something he sees as impossible given the nature of the trafficking network. While the county also makes money housing inmates from other counties, Browning said if a facility were built to federal code, the county could be paid to house federal inmates. 91.5 Chapel Hill 88.9 Manteo 90.9 Rocky Mount Quiz yourself on Black history. She holds a masters degree in international journalism from the City University of New York and earned a double major from UNC-Chapel Hill in religious studies and political science. I feel that my experience in that area coupled with my leadership and management experience makes me uniquely and more qualified to address the burgeoning drug problem. My approach to attacking Macon Countys drug problem centers around pooling resources and looking at all angles. Candidates Jones,. Prior to my announcement in April 2021, I had been approached by several citizens in Macon County who related their concerns to me. I will always give you a fair shake, he said. Bryson and his wife Ariel have been married since 2014 and currently reside in the Cullasaja Community of Macon County. They want someone who will allow them to go out and do their job and support them in doing their job, he said. Im a father, Im a husband, and most importantly, Im a Christian, he said. A State Divided: HB2 And Transgender Rights, Committee on Inclusion Diversity Equity Accountability, WUNC Public Radio, LLC Board of Directors, From the Warehouse to the world: Chicago and the birth of house music, Tesla has a new master plan. The candidates to replace Holland bring a variety of experience. Im the only one outside the department that can bring change.. Of those five men, three currently serve under Holland at MCSO, although in different divisions, while the others are newcomers with their own unique backgrounds in law enforcement. The way we get around that is the education of our youth, he said. 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