Quentin Edward Miller

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’s chief law‑enforcement officer, overseeing the Sheriff’s Office, the county jail, and civil‑process duties【12】. Miller previously appeared on the ballot in the November 8, 2022 general election, where he was the Democratic nominee for the office【1】.

Miller 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【4】.

Before becoming sheriff, Miller spent a decade with the Asheville Police Department, where he was a founding member of the department’s original community‑policing unit, “PACT.” During that time he earned the Officer of the Year award and the Overall Regional Award for creating a street‑ministry and midnight‑basketball program for at‑risk youth. He also led a job‑training initiative for unemployed residents and ran a summer camp for at‑risk youth for nearly ten years【4】.

Since taking office, Miller has pursued a “21st Century Policing” agenda. He created a DWI Task Force in 2020 using a $408,000 grant from the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program, expanding the unit to five deputies【5】. He prioritized the testing of unprocessed rape kits, earning the Dogwood Award from Attorney General Josh Stein in 2021【5】. Miller instituted a Duty‑to‑Intervene policy, banned no‑knock warrants, and instituted a policy of not honoring ICE detainers without a valid warrant【4】. He launched a Medication‑Assisted Treatment (MAT) program at the county jail—one of only two pilot programs statewide—and advocated for broader criminal‑justice reforms that have been signed into law by Governor Roy Cooper【4】. Additional initiatives include pay raises for deputies tied to training and education, expanded dash‑cam usage, and increased access to procedural‑justice and crisis‑intervention training for staff【4】.

Miller’s public statements emphasize a balanced approach to public safety, noting that “we cannot arrest our way out of the opioid crisis” and supporting medication‑assisted treatment and medical‑marijuana access for patients with serious conditions【5】. He also voiced support for DREAMers and called for a federal DACA solution. As the first African‑American sheriff of Buncombe County, Miller highlights his historic election and his commitment to community‑focused policing as he seeks re‑election for a third term【4】.

Sources

• [1] Quentin Miller (Buncombe County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia
• [4] Quentin Miller for Sheriff
• [5] Accomplishments and Policy — Quentin Miller for Sheriff
• [9] Quentin Miller for Buncombe County Sheriff (@qm4sheriff) / X
• [12] quentin miller