Russell Moody
Robbinsville – It is a move that has drawn mixed reviews since its announcement Monday: interim Graham County Sheriff Russell Moody will be a voting option when the general-election cycle begins later this year.
In an exclusive interview with The Graham Star on Tuesday, Moody said he sought spiritual guidance and talked about the decision with his family, before accepting the groundswell of support he has received since stepping back into office Feb. 24.
"People started coming to me and telling me that they wanted to write me in," Moody said. "I didn't have anything to do with it. I didn't ask anybody to go get the petition; they just went down to the election office and got it."
Moody is eligible to run as a write-in candidate, per North Carolina General Statute 163.123(b)(3). The petition had to include 100 signatures from registered voters in Graham County and had to be presented to the Graham County Board of Elections before Aug. 5 – or 90 days before the general election.
The election board will now review the signatures for verification.
One of the reasons stated by the Graham County Board of Commissioners concerning Moody's appointment was that he was not on the ballot for November.
Moody admitted to being "nervous" about the process and wanted to clue in the board, requesting a meeting with commissioner Natasha Williams and commission chair Meggan Smith.
"I told them I had a problem and I might need to resign. They looked at me like they'd just seen a ghost, because I just got here (into office)," said Moody. "I told them I didn't want anyone thinking I'd planned this. I haven't. I've just been trying to do what the Lord wants me to do."
According to Moody, Williams and Smith both concurred that what his supporters had done was out of his hands.
"I told them I was going to be a person of integrity about this," Moody continued. "If that many people have been asking, I feel like I need to give them the right to write me in."
Moody ran as a Republican in 2022, losing to former Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit. Commissioners noted at the time of his appointment that his finish was also a driving factor behind Moody's appointment to serve out the remainder of Hoxit's term.
Moody served as Graham County Sheriff from 2006-09.
Caleb Stiles won the local GOP nomination for sheriff during the March 3 primary. Reba "LouAnn" Jenkins is running for the position as a Democrat.
* Next week: Moody discusses path to appointment and changes implemented thus far.