The many be new to Macon County, but they are tried, and true methods used in most areas in the country. Jones began as a junior detention officer but also served as a member of the special response team (SRT), the countys version of a SWAT team, and also worked patrol and investigations for several years. Im constantly in schools, thats my heart., I will press for community related policies that will prompt our deputies to work with our stakeholders as role models, so that, together, our investment in the younger generation yields solid and measurable results.. 5) Any closing words you want to say to voters. Shortly after Ashe was elected sheriff in 2002, Gunnels left "because of the politics involved." My father, Homer Holbrooks served as a Sheriffs Deputy for 3-years before being elected as the Sheriff of Macon County where he served with distinction for 16 more years, retiring in 2002. In local races when a candidate wins by less than a 1 percent margin the second vote getter can request a recount, according to NC election law. Dereck Jones and his wife Jessica who works as a public health nurse have three children. 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. But Im not working in that system. Career Opportunities. Candidate Chris Browning Clay Bryson Bob Cook Brent Holbrooks Dereck E. Jones Incumbency information for this election was not available. Browning said leadership is key in recruiting and keeping officers. I enrolled in Basic Law Enforcement Training at Southwestern Community College in the Fall of 1999 to begin my career and on April 11, 2000, On my 21st birthday, I took my Oath of Office with the Macon County Sheriffs Office. Incarceration isnt going to solve the tragedy impacting our friends and neighbors struggling with drug addictions. Bryson said his education and his years with the department have given him boots-on-the ground experience coupled with administrative duties such as managing a budget, writing policy and implementing programs. Everything evolves around drug use property crimes, assaults, domestic violence, he said. All rights reserved. Waynesville is Haywood Countys only municipal g Spring 2023 enrollment at Western Carolina Univers Haywood County Schools has new leaders at several Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority received a v Clockwise from top left: Brent Holbrooks, Dereck Jones, Bob Cook, Clay Bryson. I was the first detective in North Florida to investigate food stamp fraud.. It is much different than it was when my grandfather and father both served or even when I began my career 22 years ago. A recount has been called for in the Macon County Sheriff's race. Since April 2021, I have made the proposal to get patrol coverage to not only Nantahala, but to Scaly Mountain, Otto and the Cowee area among others. In his current district, the political consequences of his decision are only just beginning to emerge. The majority of drugs come from Atlanta, and the majority of those drugs are coming from Mexico, he said. I am not looking for another career or a position for the next 20 years. I will press for community-related policies that prompt our Deputies to work with other stakeholders as role models so that, together, our investment in the younger generation yields solid and measurable results. Holbrooks, the son of former Sheriff Holbrooks, said that in his 23 years while hes also worked courthouse security, he believes his greatest strengths are his abilities as an SRT operator and his experience in civil process. Bryson has served most of his career on patrol but also did two years of narcotics investigations. Brent Holbrooks, Lt. Clay Bryson and Lt. Dereck Edward Jones. Brent Holbrooks is a lieutenant at the MCSO who has been with the office about 23 years. I spoke to a MCSO Street supervisor and asked what it would take to get coverage into those areas. Brent Holbrooks in Macon County won the. I was perfectly retired, he said. I am the only candidate who has experience in every division under the Sheriffs Office running for this position. In 2017, once again it was promised they would get some officers out there for coverage and to this day, the only time they get a patrol unit out there is in response to a call for service. Itd be a reconstruction of the whole department.. 148 likes. 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. View Candidates by State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Current Candidate List for Macon, Jackson, and Swain Counties: Macon County: Board of Commissioners District 1: Don Wilis- Republican John Shearl- Republican Board of Commissioners District 2: Ronnie Beale- Democrat Betty Cloer Wallace- Democrat Gary Shields- Republican Richard Lightner- Republican Danny Antoine- Republican With six deputies on duty, that will allow one each in Highlands and Nantahala with the remainder covering the rest of the county. Just like every other department and business around the nation, everybody suffers staff shortages, he said. Anybody that can help provide the assets, equipment, money and other resources to fight this problem we have in Macon County., His goal is to make it so the people who are bringing drugs into the county will no longer want to come here. Clay Bryson I will also not lie to them. I am not a politician. 94.1 Lumberton 99.9 Southern Pines, Courtesy of North Carolina Board of Elections. Any drug arrest is a good arrest. He said he would use the tough but caring philosophy he learned in the military. Born and raised in Newton, Iowa, Cook joined the Navy in 1972 and served until 1992 as a personnel specialist. He said law enforcement was once a respected profession but is now often looked at as a necessary evil.. I enjoy taking my children to the woods to hunt and learn about gun safety. I felt that the only way to ensure these concerns were addressed properly was to no longer sit on the sidelines. While he said he wants to reorganize the department and shrink it down to something more fiscally manageable, he also wants to increase patrols to certain outlying areas, such as Otto and Cowee. This isnt something that I take lightly, as I have been preparing for this day for many years.. Chris Browning, Clay Bryson, Bob Cook, Brent Holbrooks, and Dereck E. Jones ran in the Republican primary for Macon County Sheriff on May 17, 2022. Next, I would take the four K-9 Officers and place one per shift. Brent Holbrooks said his career in law enforcement was inspired by his father and grandfathers decades of service to Macon County. Macon County NC Sheriff's Campaign Group If I says I will accomplish something, I will make every effort to get it done. Im a law enforcement professional seeking to do what needs to be done through community involvement, he said. He also plans on continuing to make the K9 units a priority. Weve got to get out and listen to concerns, he said. I will not edit, change, or omit anything. 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. While Jones boasts diverse experience at MCSO, he highlighted his current role as a good example of why hes prepared to become sheriff. These things, Im very passionate about. 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) Jones graduated Franklin High School in 2000, Southwestern Community College in 2008 with an Associate of Arts degree, and Western Carolina University in 2012 attaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Bob Scott (828) 421-7843. As a father, my goal has always been to protect them, love them, and defend them to the best of my ability. I want to see the best for Macon County and feel that with my extensive experience, education, leadership and communication skills, I am the candidate that will move this agency forward. While hed owned property in Franklin since 1999, he and his late wife moved up permanently in 2015. Jones: I have been blessed to have worked with some really good law enforcement professionals over the years while on patrol and in investigations. Long-time sheriff Robert Holland announced his retirement in June 2021; he was first elected to the office in 2002. The video was released after a group of North Carolina media organizations including Blue Ridge Public Radio filed a complaint seeking its release. When it comes to getting new officers, Bryson said the department will continue to recruit through the law enforcement academies and job fairs. Weve got to do what we can and deal with them appropriately when they get here.. Graham County will choose a Republican sheriff and Jackson County will choose a school board seat. I intend to ask for a partnership with our federal partners who will work with us and the U.S. Attorneys Office to ensure we are getting the sentences we need to rid our community of those who supply the poison to our families. The evidence is there., As part of fighting the drug problem, Browning wants to add more resources to the narcotics division. Cooks final duty station was in the Jacksonville area, where he chose to stay and pursue a career in law enforcement. Finally, he wants to focus on rehabilitation. Im a husband, a father, but most importantly Im a Christian. From there, I then began working my way through the ranks as a corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, narcotics investigator, SWAT commander, K9 Supervisor/ Trainer, and now as Captain over Patrol. He said he decided to run because he wants to be part of moving the the office forward. That would give me one more per shift for a total of six. Dereck Jones has served in MCSO for 17 years and holds the rank of captain. Brent Holbrooks was the top vote getter. Join us for this ride! He says increasing community patrols will be important in curbing the drug issues as well as other criminal activity. Answer from candidate 3 I am a passionate, dedicated law enforcement officer who puts God first, family second and career third. They want unity. Copyright 2022 BPR News. Currently they have five on a shift including the supervisor. I want to talk to them and find out what they need., He wants to increase patrol coverage to cover all parts of the county. We need to offer our community members an alternative to turning to drugs and the power and knowledge to break free from addiction. Its ridiculous.. We can let them know what we are doing and what we can do., He said while the Sheriffs Office has an app to share information with people, not everyone has may have access to technology or internet service. He said a cadet program held when kids are out of school during the summer will help build relationships with youth. Authorities said Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, officials with the Special Victims Unit of the Macon County Sheriff's Office were investigating an allegation of sexual misconduct. I was promoted to Sergeant in 2016, and just recently promoted to Lieutenant over Civil process and Courthouse Security. Im big on community involvement and bringing our youth up to know and to show school-age children who we are.. That is your decision. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. I take great pride in building personal and professional relationships here in Macon County, he said, adding that he is committed to the youth and believes he can make a difference in Highlands, Nantahala and other communities throughout the county. He said there is always room for improvement when it comes to transparency and communicating with the community. We dont plan to change that model. I will uphold the U.S. and N.C. Constitution. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Theres going to be a learning curve for everybody, he said. I dont want this to be one occurrence I want to be a regular face at these events in these various communities because I believe you, the citizens, know what is best for your neighbors. I am a dedicated and passionate law enforcement professional with the education, training, and experience to lead the Macon County Sheriffs Office into the future. In 2010, I transferred from road Corporal to Corporal over Civil Process and Courthouse Security. 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. He said while Macon County remains a small community, we are growing and with that comes more and more problems. 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. Many were close races. I am community oriented and believe in community partnerships, Jones said. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1972 to 1992, retiring a second time from his civilian career, he had more than 22 years of experience serving in a variety of law enforcement positions. If they are a victim of a crime, it will be properly investigated. CANDIDATE LIST GROUPED BY CONTEST: Candidate Name. Candidates Jones, Holbrooks and Clay Bryson are all currently part of the Macon County Sheriffs Office. He says he would put together a proposal that looks at what is being spent now compared to what a new facility would cost or could generate in revenue. Macon County Voting & Election Information Every United States citizen 18 years of age and older who have resided in the election district 30 days before an election is entitled to register and vote in that district. Six counties in the westernmost part of North Carolina elected new sheriffs in the primary election. The only elections here in Western North Carolina are runoffs. We are all fighting the same problem and dealing with many of the same offenders across jurisdictions. I will be creative and innovative, using natural interpersonal skills learned from my family and generational roots. But for those who do not, I wanted to give you a glimpse into who I am and why I am requesting your support. Those residents deserve the same response and service from the Macon County Sheriffs Office as someone who lives in the center of town. The order the candidate answers will appear will be determined by order responses are received. 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. It was unique that he was my mentor when I was just 11 to 12 years old, and now hes my boss, Bryson said. To view listings in your area, search by state below. To win, a candidate must get at least 30 percent of the vote plus one. There were five candidates in the race. 86 SUMMIT DR FRANKLIN, NC 28734 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. Jones said he is a people person and wants people to know they can talk to him. County Boards of Elections Information BallotTrax (Absentee Ballot Tracking) Voter Registration Statistics View all tools and forms. Macon County - Sheriff Robert Holland is retiring after serving in the role since 2002. I want them to know that I will never knowingly let them down. A local man is coming out of retirement to run for Macon County Sheriff next year. Were going to get out there and do our jobs like were supposed to, he said. We need to make sure we have a secure courthouse and a secure jail or were going to have big problems.. Clockwise from top left: Brent Holbrooks, Dereck Jones, Bob Cook, Clay Bryson. Lilly Knoepp serves as BPRs first fulltime reporter covering Western North Carolina. Although I left for around three years from 2004 until 2008, I bought back all of my time, making me the candidate with the most years of service at the MCSO; 22 years of service (23-years in May 2022). Macon County is my home. See our upcoming events and sign up to attend. The primary count will be finalized on May 27th and then the recount will happen after that. He has three years of college through the Columbia College, Columbia, Mo., and an Associates in Arts degree through the Los Angeles Community College. The Southern Scoop News sent the following email to all candidates for Macon County Sheriff and posted the same text on Facebook for full transparency: As all of you know, I have made the decision to not cover the Macon County Sheriffs Election. The mission of this school is to produce prograrn graduates with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed productive citizens. Were building leaders not just for today, but for tomorrow.. 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. Some of you know me as Sarahs husband or Aprils brother, but I am proud to say that most of you know me simply as Brent. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. Clay Bryson says he has been led to where he is now, having spent his entire adult career in law enforcement, I love giving back, he said. You never know where WUNC's events will take you. My family and I attend Community Bible Church in Highlands and am an active member of the community I love so much.. Political Candidate Directory Featuring candidates for state, local and federal office. 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. I will take on the drug dealers in each community and work with outside agencies to provide help to addicts. Leading up to the primary, The Macon County News is publishing candidate profiles for local offices. DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Macon County Sheriff Jim Root has announced he will run for reelection in 2022. 4) If you were not running for office, which of the other candidates would you vote for and why? In the event that does not happen, the second highest vote-getter can call for a recall, which would be held July 26. I will make sure my people are responsible for doing their jobs., Cook said during his law enforcement career he was exposed to every facet of drug-related crimes. Both Sarah and I enjoy coaching our little ones in community league sports, we also volunteer with various youth and childrens programs at Cowee Church, where we are both members. The Macon County Sheriff's Office takes a proactive approach to law enforcement--focusing on working WITH the public and preventing crime before it happens. Length of Term Next Election Year On-Year or Off-Year Election* Term Limit Partisan or Non-Partisan Vacancy Filled By Notes He said when people dont get a response it leads them to think there is something to hide. My pride is my family as I am a dedicated father of three young children that attend the Highlands School where my wife, Sarah, serves as the Vice Principal and is finishing her 12th year in the MCS system. The SROs are vigilant; they keep their eyes open, he said. We need to offer our community members an alternative to turning to drugs and the power and knowledge to break free from addiction, he said. 91.5 Chapel Hill 88.9 Manteo 90.9 Rocky Mount Macon County. I promise to lead the Macon County Sheriffs Office with experience and integrity. 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. Phone. 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. What Otto needs from me as Sheriff may be different from what Highlands needs and I want to hear that from those who work and live in those communities every day. Candidates Jones,. 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