The people in Nantahala want to know someone is close by so they dont have to wait an hour.. The video was released after a group of North Carolina media organizations including Blue Ridge Public Radio filed a complaint seeking its release. Incarceration isnt going to solve the tragedy impacting our friends and neighbors struggling with drug addictions. As of now, there is a metal detector at the entrance that is often unmanned. Each candidate has previous law enforcement experience, including three who currently work for the Sheriffs Office. And I am confident that one of the most important ways of doing that is to continue fighting the war on drugs. He sees the top issues facing the countys law enforcement as drugs, patrol coverage, the perception of good old boys running the county and a lack of trust by citizens. Shortly after Ashe was elected sheriff in 2002, Gunnels left "because of the politics involved." In our spare time, we enjoy spending time outdoors and with our family. With it being so close, regardless of which one won if it went the other way I think that a recount would have been asked for also, said Thibault. I will work tirelessly to accomplish everything I have said I would do. I want them to see these are real people.. It hasnt even been a week since Congressman Madison Cawthorn announced he would run in North Carolinas newly drawn 13th district. But with the amount of drugs in this town, we should be seeing busts every week. Brent Holbrooks is a lieutenant at the MCSO who has been with the office about 23 years. I have had a lifetime of service and feel that I have more to give the community I love so much. Prior to my announcement in April 2021, I had been approached by several citizens in Macon County who related their concerns to me. Answer from candidate 5. so forth and so on. That is your decision. Most recently, Chris served as the Macon County Team Captain for the 2020 Madison Cawthorn congressional campaign, bringing local political savvy to the 11 District election. Those objections trigger a 90-day response time from the U.S. Forest Service. The many be new to Macon County, but they are tried, and true methods used in most areas in the country. I born 45 years ago and raised right here in Macon County. My approach to attacking Macon Countys drug problem centers around pooling resources and looking at all angles. It is my goal to create an environment within the agency that supports and uplifts all employees while providing them with the salary, benefits, and continued training needed to better themselves which will allow them to better serve our community. TOWN OF FRANKLIN MAYOR SCOTT, ROBERT STEWART. They will appear in the same order as they are returned to me. He has served many roles in the agency and is currently captain over patrol. Jones lists drugs, community partnerships, and training as the top three issues facing the countys law enforcement. I want to address the issues the citizens tell me about on a near daily basis. Unlike the three other candidates mentioned in this story, Bob Cook came to Macon County a bit later in life. 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. Although Holbrooks said he respects Holland, he isnt happy with the status quo. I hear that everywhere I go, he said. Political Candidate Directory Featuring candidates for state, local and federal office. At over 500 square miles, the majority of Macon County sits outside of the Franklin town limits. Money doesnt always buy happiness, he said. It gives us an idea on how to better prepare, he said. We have an academy in our backyard, we need to be utilizing that as much as possible, he said. Most of these concerns centered around the drug problem in Macon County. Among the sheriffs retiring in Western North Carolina who will leave big shoes to fill is Macon Countys Robert Holland, who has served in that position for almost two decades. Learn about candidates on your ballot in North Carolina Please check back later in 2023 to learn about candidates running in local elections this year in North Carolina! Im not going to sit around and just let the drugs go crazy because were waiting on the big guy. Thousands of incarcerated laborers built this railroad and nearly all of them were African American. As Sheriff, my passion for direct, hands-on, community-based policies would be a constant throughout the department. Box 629, Waynesville, NC 28786 828.452.4251. 07/07/2017. At the same time, we must continue to expand upon mental health and substance abuse programs within the detention facility and beyond to help those in need that request assistance. Personal blog He said there is always room for improvement when it comes to transparency and communicating with the community. 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. I enjoy taking my children to the woods to hunt and learn about gun safety. At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. I am community oriented and believe in community partnerships, Jones said. 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. He says a lot of the drug arrests are people being charged with possession, but there needs to be more emphasis on those selling and manufacturing. This election is not about me, its about you, meaning the public, and of course, our youth.. So when I go in, Im going in with a fresh, clear head looking at the problems we have, he said. Free Independent Weekly Newspaper - Distributed in Franklin, Highlands, Dillsboro, Webster, Cullowhee, Scaly Mountain, N.C.; Dillard & Clayton, Ga. Franklin Town Council Holds Annual Retreat, Macon County missionary returns from frontlines of Ukraine War, FHS cheer team reaches Nationals for first time. Discuss North Carolina politics. Candidates Jones,. There are five GOP candidates on the ballot: Bob Cook, Brent Holbrooks, Dereck Jones, Chris Browning. I think we need to get ours back up to what it needs to be. Answer from candidate 1 Like Jones, Holbrooks said getting courthouse security up to speed would be one of his early priorities. These officers dont always get the recognition they deserve, but I appreciate each and every one of them more than they will ever know.. How do you think law enforcement can strengthen its response to these problems? He was promoted to captain just when the office was restructured and the entire command staff received that rank. 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. For all the drugs coming out of Atlanta, Athens, right through Macon County, into Jackson County, Swain County.. Throughout my career, I served in many roles within the Sheriffs Office, first as a patrol deputy. Candidate Profiles: Macon County Sheriff Candidates By The Southern Scoop on April 26, 2022 Candidate Profiles for Macon County Sheriff Candidate Clay Bryson and Brent Holbrooks, the two candidates to respond to interview questions for The Southern Scoop News. Some of the top issues Browning wants to address are drugs, highway interdiction and increasing community patrols. They may not be driving straight up 441 but instead following one of the many backroads in and out of the county. I also have been the affiant on 99 separate telephone facility wire intercepts. He wants to see officers involved in community events and a time for people to sit down with officers and share what their needs are. The men and women of the MCSO also volunteer their . Just like every other department and business around the nation, everybody suffers staff shortages, he said. My plan would be to first meet with the Chief of Police in Franklin to discuss turning over the School Resource Officer positions inside their city limits to their responsibility, like Highlands is right now. No Democrat is running for sheriff in Graham County. The SROs are vigilant; they keep their eyes open, he said. A local man is coming out of retirement to run for Macon County Sheriff next year. Additionally, I was told by several citizens they would never vote for a member of the Sheriffs Office again. 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. 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. Length of Term Next Election Year On-Year or Off-Year Election* Term Limit Partisan or Non-Partisan Vacancy Filled By Notes I worked for the of Franklin While I eagerly awaited my 21 birthday, when I could begin the BLET program. Many people in our county do not have smart phones or internet service and this will ensure they are all able to register complaint. This week is Part I of the sheriff's candidate profiles with Clay Bryson, Bob Cook and Dereck Jones. Candidates were asked to provide a short bio and were asked the same questions. Holbrooks wants to foster a positive work culture within the department and continue to advocate for competitive pay. The candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot. Bryson has served most of his career on patrol but also did two years of narcotics investigations. Moore had served in law enforcement for 31 years. Finally, I will be a dedicated public servant, ensuring that your message of what matters most has standing within the Sheriff s Office.. 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. When it comes to recruiting new officers, he plans to reach out to community colleges and universities and suggests offering incentive pay for officers with prior law enforcement experience, training and certifications. And I am confident that one of the most important ways of doing that is to continue fighting the war on drugs. I have a great relationship with the community, he said. 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. Jones: I have been blessed to have worked with some really good law enforcement professionals over the years while on patrol and in investigations. Combine that with the body scanner and it will be a much safer situation for everybody, he said. Itd be a reconstruction of the whole department.. The majority of drugs come from Atlanta, and the majority of those drugs are coming from Mexico, he said. Perform a free Macon County, NC public arrest records search, including current & recent arrests, arrest inquiries, warrants, reports, logs, and mugshots. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "abc3707f8ab1c57b22438d4200acd0da" );document.getElementById("e96589b9de").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I have deep commitment to all Maconians and to our youth. As I have noted, I have spent approximately 14 years as an undercover Narcotics Detective. Cook: I would like the voters to know I am not one that is used to failure. 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. Next, I will meet with the Assistant Supervisor in Charge of the DEA as well as other federal authorities to discuss our needs. Jones said the jail was built in 1999 and by 2005 was already reaching capacity. He said in that capacity, his investigations, which included the use of wire taps, led to the seizure of kilograms of methamphetamine and crack cocaine at a time. 2) Tell me about your political experience. Weve got to get out and listen to concerns, he said. Graham County will choose a Republican sheriff and Jackson County will choose a school board seat. My approach to attacking Macon Countys drug problem centers around pooling resources and looking at all angles. What sets Bryson apart from the field more than anything may be his 21 years running police canines. Incarceration isnt going to solve the tragedy impacting our friends and neighbors struggling with drug addictions. His education program would include more trained School Resource Officers, including a roving K9 unit and K9 demonstrations in the schools. Theres going to be a learning curve for everybody, he said. Everything evolves around drug use property crimes, assaults, domestic violence, he said. 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. 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 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. He also wants to provide officers more training on highway interdiction and assign deputies with canine support to work Highway 441. Next, he wants to ensure drug laws are enforced within MCSO jurisdiction. 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. Macon County Sheriffs Office alone cannot fight the drug problem, he said, adding that the department must continue to partner with other agencies. But for those who do not, I wanted to give you a glimpse into who I am and why I am requesting your support. He said he decided to run because he wants to be part of moving the the office forward. 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. Holbrooks: My name is Brent and I am running for Sheriff of Macon County 2022. I am not a politician. I have said from the time I announced my candidacy for sheriff that we must work together to fight this issue. The drug problem in Macon County and surrounding areas is epidemic. Bob Cook is married (newly) with four daughters, nine grandchildren and one on the way plus one great grandson. 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. While Cook is comfortably retired and doesnt need the income from a job, he said he feels called to the position because hes worried about a good ol boys system.. 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. Jones: Combating the drug epidemic, community relations/partnerships, and training in specific areas. Cook also wants to review safety protocols for the jail and the courthouse. In 2010, I transferred from road Corporal to Corporal over Civil Process and Courthouse Security. Ive served as team leader on the SWAT team for 15 years, while employed at the Macon County Sheriffs Office. Local offices like district attorneys, county sheriff and county commissioners Polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and everyone in line by 7:30 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot. He said the Sheriffs Office must continue to help educate the community about drug and substance abuse and he wants to see more mental health and rehabilitation resources available. Ive seen many people come ask for assistance.. We firmly believe that, working together, we CAN make a positive difference in our community. DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - A new candidate is now in the running for Macon County Sheriff. One of the first ways I plan to accomplish this is to refocus the agencies SRO [School Resource Officer] program and to improve the program for all these officers to be more than SROs I want them to be active community law enforcement officers that are geared toward proactive policing and reform. I want to further our agency just as Sheriff Holland has worked to do for many years. Civil process is one of the sheriffs three statutorily mandated duties and requires deputies to serve individuals with non-criminal papers, including domestic violence protective orders. Recruitment and retention of officers is an issue not just locally, but across the country. Answer from candidate 4 Individuals and organizations had 60-days for final objections on the plan but only if they had previously commented. Brent Holbrooks was the top vote getter. My wife, Sarah, a Macon County School Assistant Principal, and I invite you to learn more about our family and community perspectives by openly encouraging a dialogue between us. 94.1 Lumberton 99.9 Southern Pines, Courtesy of North Carolina Board of Elections. We work to create a safe environment for Macon County residents and visitors by preserving the peace and enforcing the laws. 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.. Bryson: I believe one significant area of improvement within the Sheriffs Office comes with building community relations. These things, Im very passionate about. Career Opportunities. Im a father, Im a husband, and most importantly, Im a Christian, he said. I was perfectly retired, he said. I am committed to fair and equal treatment of all citizens. This site supports and informs our residents about voting, candidates, and events to promote this cause. 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. 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. I have a proven track record of doing just that while being the jail administrator since 2018. With that being said, we need to get the courthouse secured, and we need to get the X-ray machines up and going.. The transition period will be so important, he said. He said there are some safety improvements needed. I was promoted to Sergeant in 2016, and just recently promoted to Lieutenant over Civil process and Courthouse Security. 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. 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. North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) PO Box 27255 Raleigh NC 27611-7255. . Captain Clay Bryson was born and raised in Macon County and has spent half of his life, 21 years to be exact, as a law enforcement officer with the Macon County Sheriffs Office. I was the first detective in North Florida to investigate food stamp fraud.. 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. That would result in seven per shift. 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. Cooks final duty station was in the Jacksonville area, where he chose to stay and pursue a career in law enforcement. Bob Cook said he isnt running for sheriff as a career move. As your Sheriff, I will be a problem-solver, dedicated to workplace, community and family balance. Many of you already know me, my personality, and my character through our personal interactions over the years. It all boils down to preventive maintenance. I worked the road, and when working the road, you have to know the ins and outs of the drug trade, he said. I am running to make a change in the direction of our Sheriffs Office. He said all professions have bad apples and some young people are growing up with a negative impression of law enforcement.