{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nChristopher Charles Owenby, known as Chuck Owenby, is the incumbent Sheriff of Transylvania County, North Carolina, seeking re-election in 2026 with no official opposition on the ballot. First elected sheriff in 2024, he emphasizes integrity, transparency, and accountability.\n\n## Background and education\nOwenby was born and raised in Transylvania County. He graduated from Brevard High School in 1994 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a Criminal Justice concentration from Mars Hill University in 2000.\n\n## Career\nOwenby joined the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office in 2002 as a patrol officer. Over more than two decades he rose through every major rank, serving as patrol officer, School Resource Officer, Special Response Team member, Field Training Officer Coordinator, Sergeant on Patrol, Lieutenant of Professional Standards and Training, and Chief Deputy before being elected Sheriff in 2024.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Biography \u2013 Chuck Owenby for Sheriff](https://chuckowenbyforsheriff.com/biography/)\n- [2] [Sheriff Owenby faces no official opposition \u2013 Transylvania Times](https://www.transylvaniatimes.com/news/sheriff-owenby-faces-no-official-opposition/article_dd5fd18d-4e58-4778-bcf9-825f72380725.html)\n- [3] [Sheriff Chuck Owenby \u2013 North Carolina Sheriffs' Association](https://ncsheriffs.org/people/chuck-owenby)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_sheriff","county":"transylvania","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Transylvania County Sheriff"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Christopher","fullname":"Christopher Charles Owenby","lastname":"Owenby","middlename":"Charles","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_sheriff","contest_title":"Transylvania County Sheriff","county":"transylvania","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"transylvania","office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"transylvania","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_sheriff","contest_title":"Transylvania County Sheriff","county":"transylvania","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"transylvania","office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Christopher Charles Owenby is identified as a candidate for Sheriff in Transylvania County, North Carolina, and was previously charged with felony firearm possession.","terms":[],"token":"9dad4444c8464cbe"}