{"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":"U7SMwruSxuXb0z4l"},{"candidatename":"Quentin Miller","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"Quentin Edward Miller is the incumbent Buncombe County Sheriff and is running for a third term as the Democratic candidate in the 2026 election for Buncombe County, North Carolina. The elected sheriff serves as the county\u2019s chief law\u2011enforcement officer, overseeing the Sheriff\u2019s Office, the county jail, and civil\u2011process duties\u301012\u3011. Miller previously appeared on the ballot in the November 8, 2022 general election, where he was the Democratic nominee for the office\u30101\u3011.\n\nMiller was born and raised in Asheville, graduating from Asheville High School in 1981. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served 11 years as a Military Policeman, including a tour at Fort Bragg. While stationed there he met his wife, Karen Sconiers, and they have been married for 39 years and share 11 grandchildren. Miller and his wife have also fostered more than 100 children since 2005. He holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Department of Justice and completed the Administrative Officers Management Program at North Carolina State University\u30104\u3011.\n\nBefore becoming sheriff, Miller spent a decade with the Asheville Police Department, where he was a founding member of the department\u2019s original community\u2011policing unit, \u201cPACT.\u201d During that time he earned the Officer of the Year award and the Overall Regional Award for creating a street\u2011ministry and midnight\u2011basketball program for at\u2011risk youth. He also led a job\u2011training initiative for unemployed residents and ran a summer camp for at\u2011risk youth for nearly ten years\u30104\u3011.\n\nSince taking office, Miller has pursued a \u201c21st\u202fCentury Policing\u201d agenda. He created a DWI Task Force in 2020 using a $408,000 grant from the North Carolina Governor\u2019s Highway Safety Program, expanding the unit to five deputies\u30105\u3011. He prioritized the testing of unprocessed rape kits, earning the Dogwood Award from Attorney General Josh Stein in 2021\u30105\u3011. Miller instituted a Duty\u2011to\u2011Intervene policy, banned no\u2011knock warrants, and instituted a policy of not honoring ICE detainers without a valid warrant\u30104\u3011. He launched a Medication\u2011Assisted Treatment (MAT) program at the county jail\u2014one of only two pilot programs statewide\u2014and advocated for broader criminal\u2011justice reforms that have been signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper\u30104\u3011. Additional initiatives include pay raises for deputies tied to training and education, expanded dash\u2011cam usage, and increased access to procedural\u2011justice and crisis\u2011intervention training for staff\u30104\u3011.\n\nMiller\u2019s public statements emphasize a balanced approach to public safety, noting that \u201cwe cannot arrest our way out of the opioid crisis\u201d and supporting medication\u2011assisted treatment and medical\u2011marijuana access for patients with serious conditions\u30105\u3011. He also voiced support for DREAMers and called for a federal DACA solution. As the first African\u2011American sheriff of Buncombe County, Miller highlights his historic election and his commitment to community\u2011focused policing as he seeks re\u2011election for a third term\u30104\u3011.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Quentin Miller (Buncombe County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Quentin_Miller_(Buncombe_County_Sheriff,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n- [4] [Quentin Miller for Sheriff](https://www.quentinforbuncombe.org/)\n- [5] [Accomplishments and Policy \u2014 Quentin Miller for Sheriff](https://www.quentinforbuncombe.org/accomplishments-and-policy)\n- [9] [Quentin Miller for Buncombe County Sheriff (@qm4sheriff) / X](https://x.com/qm4sheriff)\n- [12] [quentin miller](https://www.bpr.org/tags/quentin-miller)","firstname":"Quentin","lastname":"Miller","middlename":"Edward","suffix":null,"token":"5ce73fc4cee38ba4"},"token":"QqRrL7UBw7gf8XFM"}],"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"}