{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Gary Parris","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nGary Keith Parris is a Republican candidate running for Buncombe County Sheriff in North Carolina [1]. A lifelong native of Buncombe County who grew up in the French Broad community of Alexander, North Carolina, Parris served 22 years in the United States Navy as a cryptology and naval intelligence officer [2][3][8]. He officially filed to run for the office on December 2, 2025 [8].\n\nParris secured the Republican nomination in the primary election, which was projected to be won by him in early March 2026 [4]. This result sets up a general election contest against the Democratic incumbent, Sheriff Quentin Miller, who is seeking a third term [6][9]. The general election is scheduled for November 2026 [6].\n\nParris\u2019s campaign, branded as \"Parris for Safety,\" emphasizes his military background and local roots [2]. His platform focuses on protecting community safety, with the campaign slogan \"Protect What Matters\" [2]. The campaign maintains a headquarters in Arden, North Carolina, and lists accessibility and public safety experience as key pillars of his candidacy [2][8].\n\n## Background and education\n\nGary Keith Parris is a native of Buncombe County, North Carolina, who grew up in the French Broad community in Alexander, NC [3]. He was raised by his adopted parents, Dennis and Rhea Parris [3]. His upbringing was shaped by a service-oriented family environment and strong faith [2].\n\nParris served in the United States Navy for 22 years as a cryptology and naval intelligence officer before retiring from military service [3][8]. Specific details regarding his civilian education, such as schools attended or degrees earned, are not provided in the available sources.\n\n## Career\n\nGary Keith Parris is a Buncombe County native who grew up in the French Broad community of Alexander, North Carolina, with his adopted parents, Dennis and Rhea Parris [3]. He served in the United States Navy for 22 years as a cryptology and naval intelligence officer [8]. Following his military service, he worked as a former Naval Intelligence officer before entering public life [5].\n\nParris self-describes as having \"mountain roots\" and a background shaped by a service-oriented upbringing, strong faith, and deep love for the mountains [2]. He is a lifelong resident of Buncombe County who has filed to run for office in the region [8].\n\n## Office history\n\nGary Parris served in the United States Navy for 22 years, retiring as a cryptology and naval intelligence officer [3][8]. He self-describes his background as that of a lifelong Buncombe County native who grew up in the French Broad community in Alexander, North Carolina [2][3].\n\nParris filed to run for Buncombe County Sheriff on December 2, 2025 [8]. He competed in the Republican primary election and was projected to win the nomination, setting up a general election contest against Democratic incumbent Quentin Miller [4][6][7]. As of May 12, 2026, the November 2026 general election has not yet occurred [9].\n\n## Family\n\nGary Parris is a lifelong Buncombe County native who grew up in the French Broad community in Alexander, North Carolina [3]. He was raised by his adopted parents, Dennis and Rhea Parris [3]. His father was known throughout churches in Western North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia for teaching unique \"shaped\" lessons [3]. Parris self-describes as being shaped by a service-oriented upbringing, strong faith, and a deep love for the mountains [2].\n\nThe provided sources do not contain specific information regarding his spouse or children.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Gary Parris (Buncombe County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate 2026) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Gary_Parris_(Buncombe_County_Sheriff,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2026))\n[2] [Parris for Safety - Protect What Matters - Buncombe County 2026](https://parrisforsafety.com/)\n[3] [About Gary - Parris for Safety](https://parrisforsafety.com/about-us/)\n[4] [Gary Parris is projected to win the GOP nomination for ...](https://www.facebook.com/News13/posts/gary-parris-is-projected-to-win-the-gop-nomination-for-buncombe-county-sheriff-s/1226525186350879/)\n[5] [Former Navy intelligence officer announces bid for Buncombe County sheriff - Asheville's 828 News NOW](https://828newsnow.com/news/228822-former-navy-intelligence-officer-announces-bid-for-buncombe-county-sheriff/)\n[6] [Parris to face Sheriff Miller in November after projected primary election win](https://wlos.com/news/local/gary-parris-wins-gop-nomination-buncombe-county-sheriff-face-democratic-incumbent-quentin-miller-november-general)\n[7] [Parris wins primary, will face Quentin Miller for Buncombe County sheriff - AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/parris-wins-primary-face-quentin-030640885.html)\n[8] [Former Naval Intelligence Officer Files for Buncombe County Sheriff | Prism News](https://www.prismedia.ai/news/former-naval-intelligence-officer-files-for-buncombe-county-sheriff)\n[9] [Sheriff Quentin Miller seeks third term in office, will face challenger Gary Parris](https://wlos.com/news/local/buncombe-county-sheriff-quentin-miller-seeks-third-term-office-election-office-campaign-community-gary-parris-candidates-2026)","firstname":"Gary","lastname":"Parris","middlename":"Keith","suffix":null,"token":"cb061dc8fa3ef65a"},"token":"d-za0n_nGYFAM08g"},{"candidatename":"Vic Morman","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"According to the North Carolina voter file, Victor Lamar Morman is a registered voter in Buncombe County, North Carolina, registered since 2019 (7 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [1].\n\nThe voter file shows Victor Lamar Morman's year of birth as 1969; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 6 elections voted in since 2018, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of Victor Lamar Morman can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","firstname":"Victor","lastname":"Morman","middlename":"Lamar","suffix":null,"token":"818d24882340f0e1"},"token":"nAsj2osE-hITy7m6"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"sheriff","o.office":"county_sheriff","office":"county_sheriff","officedescription":"The sheriff is the county's chief law-enforcement officer. The office operates the county jail, provides court security, serves civil process and executes warrants, and provides patrol and investigation \u2014 a large operational command with a substantial budget.","officequalities":"- Organizational leadership of a sheriff's office spanning patrol, investigations, court services, and the county jail.\n- Oversight of the county jail, including intake, inmate health, and release procedures.\n- Working knowledge of Tennessee criminal law, court process, and constitutional search-and-seizure standards.\n- Ability to develop and oversee the office's operating budget with public accountability.\n- Coordination with municipal police departments and neighboring-county and state agencies.\n- A documented law-enforcement or public-safety background.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Sheriff","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Buncombe County Sheriff"}