The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county and is elected in partisan elections for a 4-year term. No person is eligible to serve as sheriff if that person has been convicted of a felony, whether or not their rights of citizenship have been restored. Duties of the Sheriff’s office include the operation of the jail, law enforcement, providing security for courts, serving criminal warrants and other writs and summonses, and transporting prisoners.
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Position/philosophy statement
Safe Famies, Safe Communities, Safe Schools
Current Occupation
Retired
Age (optional)
68
Campaign Phone
828-278-9525
Campaign Youtube URL
I am a native of Buncombe County and grew up in the French Broad community of Alexander. I have law enforcement experience, 22 years of service in the USN working in Intelligence and Cryptology, classroom teaching, and Defense Contracting work supporting a Global Joint Services Cyber training program. I retired in 2022 with the VADOC at the rank of Captain directly responsible for day-to-day operations and the safety and security of 1,500 staff and Inmates at a level 5 maximum prison.
Today's Sheriff is a CEO and administrator responsible for an approximate 28-million-dollar budget while strategically planning and growing the Office of Sherrif to meet the challenges of 2026 and beyond. My above life experiences more than qualify me.
Buncombe County has the 9th deadliest jail in the state. The trafficking of Fentanly, women and children, and guns serve to not only make our county unsafe, but those of the neighboring counties that surround us.
Rebuild and modernize the Sheriff's Office and Detention Center by first investing in our Deputies, Corrections Officers, and their families. The Sheriff's Office is currently 70-80 deputies short. People don't leave bad jobs; they leave bad leadership.
I will regain the public's trust through enforcement of the Enforce the law, improving and developing the current culture of the Sheriff's Office, and capturing technologies to meet the public safety challenges of 2026 making Buncombe County safer and better for everyone.
Investing in our Deputies, Corrections Officers, and their families is the first step to improve the Sheriff's Office. I will hire, retain, and provide continuous training while advocating for fair pay and compensation for our personnel.
My job as Sheriff is to enforce the law. I will support the current adult Veteran's, DWI, and Aspire courts and will advocate with our local elected, House, and State leaders to establish a youth drug and alcohol court here in Buncombe. Currently there are only three Youth courts in the state. This will allow me as your Sheriff to work with our school systems and community leaders, to identify troubled youth and work to keep them outside the Judicial System.
Our children and youth are the future of our County, and we need to do a better job to ensure they are able to grow up and lead successful and productive lives.
2026 is the crossroads for our county. Voters will decide if the current course with public safety that includes the 9th deadliest jail in the state, a stagnant Sheriff's Office that accepts the status quo and longer able to provide a patrol presence and retain personnel, is acceptable.
I am not running against any individual or political party. I am running for the Office Sheriff. Public service is above any politics or agenda; I will be and work for everyone.
Buncombe County should have the best modernized Sheriff's Office in Western North Carolina and a Detention Center ranked in the top ten of the best in the state.
As the Sheriff I will leverage my experience and knowledge to rebuild and modernize your Sheriff's Office to include our Detention Center. We can once again have Safe Families, Safe Communities, and Safe Schools.
