In our spare time, we enjoy spending time outdoors and with our family. Macon County Sheriffs Office alone cannot fight the drug problem, he said, adding that the department must continue to partner with other agencies. Upon retirement from the Navy, I went to the Police Academy in Jacksonville, Fla., after which I was hired by the Jacksonville Beach Police Department, Jacksonville Beach, Fla. After approximately two and a half years, I applied to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office where I remained for approximately 20 years. 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 would like to add a body scanner to check for drugs or weapons coming into the jail and repurpose some positions to add another person per shift. My approach to attacking Macon Countys drug problem centers around pooling resources and looking at all angles. Items below are placed at the cadidates request, in the order received. 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. We are all fighting the same problem and dealing with many of the same offenders across jurisdictions. Bryson: As the new Captain over patrol, I have gotten a crash course in the struggles our agency faces to cover all 500 miles of Macon County. I decided to enter the race as a candidate to make a difference not only in the lives of the citizens of Macon County, but also in the operation of the Sheriffs Office., Jones: Macon County is my home. Required fields are marked *. In Macon, Cherokee and Clay Counties the sheriff's races were decided during the Republican primaries with no candidates from the other parties. My approach to attacking Macon Countys drug problem centers around pooling resources and looking at all angles. Analyze how and why you love the way you do. My number one priority to the citizens of Macon County if elected as your next Sheriff, is to protect you and your families with the same vigilance I protect my own. She says that the recount will likely take place after Memorial Day. He says increasing community patrols will be important in curbing the drug issues as well as other criminal activity. Brent Holbrooks was the top vote getter. Related to community partnerships is educating youth not only about the dangers such as drug use, but also showing them opportunities available. Draft N.C. Clean Transportation Plan available for public comment, 2023 Child Fatality Task Force report shows increase in child gun deaths, youth suicide, Jackson County TDA increases funding to $2,500 for third year of Cleaning Up the Mountains, Swain leaders voice continued opposition to parking passes in GSMNP, NC revenue forecast projects $3.25 billion surplus, 10.7% revenue increase for Fiscal Year 2022-23, Swain commissioners move to hire attorney to address GSMNP parking fees, Brad Waldrop named to Sylva Board of Commissioners, Rabun Gap girls basketball brings home second-straight NCISAA state title, Macon leaders withdraw plans to move forward with Highlands PreK renovations, Lifelong educator and author honored in Jackson County with special day. County Boards of Elections Information BallotTrax (Absentee Ballot Tracking) Voter Registration Statistics View all tools and forms. See our upcoming events and sign up to attend. Cook said his longest gig was working as an undercover narcotics detective, something he did for 14 years. Perform a free Macon County, NC public arrest records search, including current & recent arrests, arrest inquiries, warrants, reports, logs, and mugshots. Bryson said education and the cadet program is a way to draw interest to the profession. I am the only candidate who can confidently stand on my record as a law enforcement officer in Macon County. I am a passionate, dedicated law enforcement officer who puts God first, family second and career third. No Democrats were on the ballot so this primary decides who will be the next Sheriff in the County. Next, he wants to ensure drug laws are enforced within MCSO jurisdiction. Im passionate about what I do, he said. Holbrooks: My name is Brent and I am running for Sheriff of Macon County 2022. That is your decision. I think we need to get ours back up to what it needs to be. Clay Bryson 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. Sheriff Brent Holbrooks - 2368 (32.21 percent) Winner Dereck E. Jones - 2314 (31.57 percent) Clay Bryson - 1123 (15.32 percent) 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. 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. He said there is always room for improvement when it comes to transparency and communicating with the community. 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. I will do everything in my power to curb the drug issues Macon County is facing, but the reality is it will never be gone.. Ive served as team leader on the SWAT team for 15 years, while employed at the Macon County Sheriffs Office. I want them to see these are real people.. Jones: I have been blessed to have worked with some really good law enforcement professionals over the years while on patrol and in investigations. Neither Bryson or Holbrooks answered this question, which was their right to do. He chose to run because people were telling him about the issues they were having in the community and with the Sheriffs Office. Each candidate has previous law enforcement experience, including three who currently work for the Sheriffs Office. We dont plan to change that model. Were building leaders not just for today, but for tomorrow.. Holbrooks says drugs is the number one problem facing the county. I bring to the table experience. NC 28734 Phone: 828-349-2000 . We need to offer our community members an alternative to turning to drugs and the power and knowledge to break free from addiction., Holbrooks: Eight generations of Holbrooks have called Macon County home it is this legacy, strong family values and impeccable work ethic that defines who I am. However, I have been asked to help share information about the candidates so what I have decided is to send every candidate this same email (everyone is copied) and leave it up to you if you want to respond or not. It's Official, There's A New Sheriff (candidate) In Town. 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) Were going to get back to enforcing the law the way it is supposed to be done.. Some of you know me as Deputy Holbrooks and more recently as Lieutenant Holbrooks, others know me as COACH. Sheriff Robbie Holland, who is retiring this year, told BPR that he would be happy if any of the current officers were elected. After 20 years of doing things the same way its time for a whole different approach and attitude.. This isnt something that I take lightly, as I have been preparing for this day for many years.. 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 cant be successful as Sheriff without you, which is why I promise to work alongside you to continue to improve the quality of life here in Macon County, together. Bryson: Having the unique advantage of experiencing first-hand the multitude of ways law enforcement serves Macon County, I promise to lead the Macon County Sheriffs Office with experience and integrity to best serve the community as Macon Countys next Sheriff. There were five candidates in the race. Cook also wants to review safety protocols for the jail and the courthouse. He was promoted to captain just when the office was restructured and the entire command staff received that rank. He also plans on continuing to make the K9 units a priority. I dont. In 2010, I transferred from road Corporal to Corporal over Civil Process and Courthouse Security. 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. Itd be a reconstruction of the whole department.. Holbrooks final appeal was for people to trust his experience, not only with MCSO but within the greater community. 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.. You never know where WUNC's events will take you. Beasley and Budd both won in Macon County with Beasley receiving 686 votes (58.48 percent) and Budd getting 3,588 (53.34 percent) The unofficial primary election totals with all precincts reporting. At least three members of the Macon County Sheriff's Office have already announced their intent to be his replacement including Sgt. I want to address the issues the citizens tell me about on a near daily basis. Although Holbrooks said he respects Holland, he isnt happy with the status quo. Bob Cook said he isnt running for sheriff as a career move. 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. The drug problem affects every single family in Macon County.. Address. A local man is coming out of retirement to run for Macon County Sheriff next year. 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. 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 Candidates . Jones: Combating the drug epidemic, community relations/partnerships, and training in specific areas. That would result in seven per shift. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. Recruitment and retention of officers is an issue not just locally, but across the country. 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. Additionally, they would be primarily a backup officer to keep them free for K-9 duties. I want the voters to know they can rely on me. Well start with these intermediate community drug dealers and work our way up., He believes for too long the system has been set up to work from the top down with officers on the lookout for the big guys., Weve never got the big guy here. He thinks the solution is starting at the bottom with the local dealers. This week is Part I of the sheriffs candidate profiles with Clay Bryson, Bob Cook and Dereck Jones. With more arrests comes the need for more jail space. He said he would use the tough but caring philosophy he learned in the military. Jones said education is important and he wants to expand training opportunities for the department. Root, who was sworn in as sheriff on Monday, June 21, was part of a court battle. He said all professions have bad apples and some young people are growing up with a negative impression of law enforcement. He said he decided to run because he wants to be part of moving the the office forward. They wanted a change in leadership. As I have noted, I have spent approximately 14 years as an undercover Narcotics Detective. I obtained my law enforcement certification from Southwestern Community College and I began working at the Macon County Sherrifs Department in 1999. This week is Part I of the sheriff's candidate profiles with Clay Bryson, Bob Cook and Dereck Jones. Brent Holbrooks, Lt. Clay Bryson and Lt. Dereck Edward Jones. Money doesnt always buy happiness, he said. I want to make our county safer for our families, he said. Holbrooks noted that he has experience far beyond just encounters during patrol. Next, I would take the four K-9 Officers and place one per shift. 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. At over 500 square miles, the majority of Macon County sits outside of the Franklin town limits. 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. Incarceration isnt going to solve the tragedy impacting our friends and neighbors struggling with drug addictions. I was perfectly retired, he said. I will not edit, change, or omit anything. Cody Moore has officially announced his candidacy for the 2022 election . I will promise to always give my best effort . 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. I am the only candidate who is currently in a position to transition to Sheriff with the immediate knowledge of the agencys needs and budget from day one. By Jake Browning on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 Elections to choose Macon County's next sheriff won't begin until next year, but the race has already become more of a high speed chase. 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. I want to boost their role in the agency as focusing our SROs on being the first line of defense for proactive policing and reaching the next generation. Chris Browning wants to bring change to Macon County and an aggressive approach to the drug problem. Copyright 2022 BPR News. 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. 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 County's Robert Holland, who has served in that position for almost two decades. As a father, my goal has always been to protect them, love them, and defend them to the best of my ability. Candidates were asked to provide a short bio and were asked the same questions. Meet NPR hosts and reporters. Throughout my career with the Sheriffs Office. There are five GOP candidates on the ballot: Bob Cook, Brent Holbrooks, Dereck Jones, Chris Browning. 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. Clockwise from top left: Brent Holbrooks, Dereck Jones, Bob Cook, Clay Bryson. Work With Us. I had people tell me they wouldnt vote for anyone from the Macon County Sheriffs Office, he said. 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! With six deputies on duty, that will allow one each in Highlands and Nantahala with the remainder covering the rest of the county. Personal, Professional, Education. I have a totally different vision of anybody thats working there now., He said after 20 years with one administration, its time for a change. 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. Do we need to add on to our facility? I have the unique advantage of experiencing first-hand the multitude of ways law enforcement serves Macon County. 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. 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. In addition, Bryson has served on the SRT for years and has been its commander since 2012. Browning said the county is already spending money to house inmates in other facilities and the time will come for a new jail. The number one thing were going to do right off the bat is were going to go after the community drug dealers, he said. These things, Im very passionate about. Theres going to be a learning curve for everybody, he said. We need to be hard on the dealers and traffickers, he said. In 2018, he was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant and became the detention center administrator. Wednesday, April 27, 2022. Six counties in the westernmost part of North Carolina elected new sheriffs in the primary election. 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.. It's not a new car just big thoughts on planet Earth, Look up! Melanie Thibault is director of the Macon County Board of Elections. 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. 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. 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. Holbrooks wants to foster a positive work culture within the department and continue to advocate for competitive pay. Check your voter registration status Learn about registering to vote Contact your county board of elections Common Cause NC 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. 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. DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - A new candidate is now in the running for Macon County Sheriff. I worked at Jacksonville Beach Police Department for two and a half years then transferred over to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office and stayed 22 years there, Cook said. I have become known over the years as a person that listens carefully to what people have to say.. Many of you already know me, my personality, and my character through our personal interactions over the years. 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. BPR explains some of the objections. First, he wants to educate youth on drugs that come into the area, especially considering how many encounter them at home or in their social circles. Throughout his career, Bryson has served in many roles within the Sheriffs Office, first as a patrol deputy. I spoke to a MCSO Street supervisor and asked what it would take to get coverage into those areas. Chris Browning welcomes all Macon County residents to a town hall style meet-and-greet. Additionally, I was told by several citizens they would never vote for a member of the Sheriffs Office again. CANDIDATE LIST GROUPED BY CONTEST: Candidate Name. Career Opportunities. TOWN OF FRANKLIN MAYOR SCOTT, ROBERT STEWART. This is something I believe we desperately need, he said. They felt disenfranchised and saw what they considered as the good old boy club being treated differently than everyone else. I felt that the only way to ensure these concerns were addressed properly was to no longer sit on the sidelines. Breeden for School Board Facebook Page Antoine for Commisioner Facebook Link 2019 Citizen of the Year Article CONTACT US Mailing Address: Macon County Republican Party PO Box 595 Franklin, NC 28744 Email: maconrepublicans@gmail IN GOD WE TRUST Has served in many roles within the Sheriffs candidate profiles with Clay Bryson, Cook! 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