At least three members of the Macon County Sheriff's Office have already announced their intent to be his replacement including Sgt. In Macon County Republican primary, Brent Holbrooks defeated Dereck Jones by just 54 votes, or .74% (32.31% to 31.57%). I want to further our agency just as Sheriff Holland has worked to do for many years. Leading up to the primary, The Macon County News will publish candidate profiles for local offices. There are five GOP candidates on the ballot: Bob Cook, Brent Holbrooks, Dereck Jones, Chris Browning. In addition, Bryson has served on the SRT for years and has been its commander since 2012. 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.. 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. No Democrat is running for sheriff in Graham County. I am the right individual for this position. 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. He said a cadet program held when kids are out of school during the summer will help build relationships with youth. We need to make sure we have a secure courthouse and a secure jail or were going to have big problems.. When citizens ask questions, respond to them, within the law, he said. 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. He have served as a law enforcement officer since 2005, first with the Highlands Police Department and presently with the Macon County Sheriffs Office, totaling over 17 years. I will work tirelessly to accomplish everything I have said I would do. Chris Browning welcomes all Macon County residents to a town hall style meet-and-greet. The K-9 Officers would be stationed in a zone that would enable them to be mobile in the event of a requirement for their services. Bryson said he thinks the county has outgrown the jail and he would work with the County Commissioners to look at the pros and cons of a new facility or housing inmates out of county. If they have a question either myself or my staff will answer them. Jones said education is important and he wants to expand training opportunities for the department. Copyright 2022 BPR News. 148 likes. The only elections here in Western North Carolina are runoffs. Tags News Franklin Macon County BPR News BPR Mayor Bob Scott Sheriff Sheriff Robert Holland Mayor Lilly Knoepp But for those who do not, I wanted to give you a glimpse into who I am and why I am requesting your support. I am a man of my word. 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. Cook retired after earning the rank of Chief Petty Officer with Surface Warfare Qualifications. 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. 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.. Brent Holbrooks was the top vote getter. In 1893 he was elected by the largest vote received by any candidate, as a member of the first board of county commissioners of Chatham under the new law for such boards that went into effect at that time. So when I go in, Im going in with a fresh, clear head looking at the problems we have, he said. 86 SUMMIT DR FRANKLIN, NC 28734 Bryson said his interest in law enforcement flourished after participating in a youth program under former Sheriff Homer Holbrooks. Posted at 01:41h . I am not a politician. Candidates Jones,. I am the only candidate who has experience in every division under the Sheriffs Office running for this position. 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. Jones said he is a people person and wants people to know they can talk to him. He said law enforcement was once a respected profession but is now often looked at as a necessary evil.. Analyze how and why you love the way you do. DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Macon County Sheriff Jim Root has announced he will run for reelection in 2022. I always stand firm that I am not a politician, but I am a family man that loves God, my family, and our country., Your email address will not be published. Some of you know me as Deputy Holbrooks and more recently as Lieutenant Holbrooks, others know me as COACH. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News. 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. 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. SROs play an invaluable role in our agency. Sep 22, 2021 Updated Sep 22, 2021. Just like every other department and business around the nation, everybody suffers staff shortages, he said. He plans to seek grants and funding opportunities to make mental health resources and substance abuse treatment more readily available and accessible. He chose to run because people were telling him about the issues they were having in the community and with the Sheriffs Office. They will be able to count on me and I will not let them down. 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. 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 need to be hard on the dealers and traffickers, he said. Any drug arrest is a good arrest. They will appear in the same order as they are returned to me. 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. Answer from candidate 2 From there, he began working his way through the ranks as a corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, narcotics investigator, SWAT commander, K9 Supervisor/ Trainer, and now as Captain over Patrol. 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). He said all professions have bad apples and some young people are growing up with a negative impression of law enforcement. The report Jackson County Tourism Development Authority (JCTDA) has once again shown its commitment to environmental stewardship by increasing its funding to $2,500 for the third year By Kristin Fox Next month, the Park It Forward Program will begin in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). Ill pat you on the back when you do a great job, but if you go against my policy, youll suffer the consequences., He said employees want to be treated fairly and equally. Yet, the fundamentals of community-based policies and a passion to do what is right must remain constant. 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. Cody Moore served as the Decatur Police Department's Deputy Chief until 2016 when he retired. But with the amount of drugs in this town, we should be seeing busts every week. He said having the K9 units work closely with the narcotics division allows the department to better respond to drug related calls and investigations. Quiz yourself on Black history. His three-prong approach to the problem includes education, enforcement and rehabilitation. During interviews and appearances at several recent forums, all five candidates agree the drug problem is the number one issue facing the county. Some of the top issues Browning wants to address are drugs, highway interdiction and increasing community patrols. 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. Related to community partnerships is educating youth not only about the dangers such as drug use, but also showing them opportunities available. I want to further our agency just as Sheriff Holland has worked to do for many years. Brent Holbrooks said his career in law enforcement was inspired by his father and grandfathers decades of service to Macon County. I enjoy taking my children to the woods to hunt and learn about gun safety. Bryson said more must be done on the enforcement end as well and wants to have a task force including the Sheriffs Office and the Franklin and Highlands police departments. This week is Part I of the sheriff's candidate profiles with Clay Bryson, Bob Cook and Dereck Jones. Following is Part II of the sheriff's candidate profiles featuring Brent Holbrooks and Chris Browning. He said the countys pay study helped get the departments salaries to a competitive level with other agencies in the area. The men and women of the MCSO also volunteer their . Brent Holbrooks is a lieutenant at the MCSO who has been with the office about 23 years. After 20 years of doing things the same way its time for a whole different approach and attitude.. With six deputies on duty, that will allow one each in Highlands and Nantahala with the remainder covering the rest of the county. Leading up to the primary, The Macon County News will publish candidate profiles for local offices. The candidates to replace Holland bring a variety of experience. Do we need to add on to our facility? 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. Im not going to sit around and just let the drugs go crazy because were waiting on the big guy. They wanted a change in leadership. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Only Clay Bryson and Brent Holbrooks responded and here are their unedited responses. TBD 11/09/2021 Chris Browning for Macon County Sheriff - Campaign Launch It's official! It's Official, There's A New Sheriff (candidate) In Town. To submit a listing for consideration, click here . Im a law enforcement professional seeking to do what needs to be done through community involvement, he said. 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. Candidates were asked to provide a short bio and were asked the same questions. I will take on the drug dealers in each community and work with outside agencies to provide help to addicts. 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. I have served as a detention officer, deputy sheriff, corporal/field training officer, Special Response Team, patrol sergeant, juvenile investigator, criminal investigator, lieutenant, and currently captain jail administrator who has overseen a budget of at least $2.5 million and was tasked with updating the detention center policies and procedures in 2019, said Jones. Weve got to get out and listen to concerns, he said. CANDIDATE LIST GROUPED BY CONTEST: Candidate Name. 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) Crime has gotten so much worse, but we are doing so much. That would give me one more per shift for a total of six. 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. We have to get better doing this patrol thing, he said. Bob Cook is married (newly) with four daughters, nine grandchildren and one on the way plus one great grandson. Bryson and his wife Ariel have been married since 2014 and currently reside in the Cullasaja Community of Macon County. He wants to see officers more involved with the countys youth through community programs and youth sports. 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. Cook also wants to review safety protocols for the jail and the courthouse. 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