* Part 1 of a 2-part report
Robbinsville – The Graham Star’s Republican Primary Candidate Forum on Feb. 7 served as a vehicle to best introduce voters to the individuals who are on the March ballot for the local commissioner and sheriff races.
Each of the six candidates for sheriff – as well as eight of the individuals vying for a commissioner seat – spent 90 minutes in front of a packed audience at the Graham County Courthouse, answering questions submitted by attendees as they entered the historic facility. A pair of candidates were given two minutes to address each question in a randomized order, with the queries drawn at random by the forum’s moderator: Graham Star Publisher/Editor Kevin Hensley.
Commission candidate Dawson Williams did not attend, while fellow commission contender Josh Reap declined to participate. Reap was on-hand – and will be on the primary ballot – but again repeated his request to the public to be written in as a candidate for the Graham County Board of Education race, which will appear on November’s general election ticket.
Due to space constraints, The Star will summarize each sheriff candidate’s responses at Feb. 7’s forum in this week’s edition; replies from commission candidates will appear in our Feb. 26 edition.
Candidate summaries below are listed alphabetically; opening and closing statements were not recapped.
The forum can be viewed in its entirety on The Star’s YouTube channel. A portion of the video feed from the sheriff’s forum was lost due to a technical failure, but the audio is still intact; the commissioner forum is available in its entirety.
Leon Allen
As a shift leader for Graham County EMS, Allen is in charge of four employees.
He stated that he is running to “restore morals and values to the office” of sheriff, saying that the position needs to restore those ideals to regain the trust of the public. He added that transparency is also something he would provide.
Allen said he would not cut any slack toward members of his family regarding
criminal activity, stating he would request a conversation with the district attorney and follow the recommendation on which agency should conduct the pertinent investigation.
Allen put any doubts to rest regarding illegal license checks, stating that deputies would be "properly trained" and illegal checks would not take place.
A property owner in the East Buffalo community, Allen said he felt the same burden as fellow residents when recent tax re-evaluations caused a sudden hike in property values across the county. Allen elaborated on the matter by noting that much of the county’s land cannot be taxed due to 70% lying on U.S. Forest Service property, creating a limited tax base. However, Allen said budgets always contain “wasteful spending” that can be eliminated and certain money can be shifted around to cover expenses. He also said he would seek out grant funding, to avoid charging local taxpayers for additional expenditures.
Animal control is a "major" issue in Graham County that begins with pet owners, Allen said when asked about enforcing state statutes concerning animal cruelty. He reiterated his belief that animal control would function better as either a standalone operation or under the Graham County Department of Public Health, as both avenues open up more opportunities for grant funding.
Allen said deputies are often placed in tough situations when asked to handle calls regarding panhandlers and trespassers, as it creates a moral dilemma of wanting to help business owners and residents – while at the same time, assist the individuals who are creating the disturbance. Allen said he has reached out to a state legislator to alter the charge, "intoxicated and disruptive" to "impaired and disruptive," which he feels is a more appropriate charge for the situation.
The idea of "patrol zones" is something Allen has campaigned on. He was able to elaborate on the matter when asked about cracking down on illegal drug activity, pointing out that deputies assigned to areas of the county would be able to "built a rapport" with residents, gain trust and pursue any tips that may follow. Allen said he also wanted to curb drug use by implementing a rehabilitation program that he has researched through Dogwood Health Trust, which would treat offenders while in custody.
Allen's top priorities – if elected to office – is to restore trust with the community; improve community engagement and transparency; and work on the drug epidemic.
Cody George
The former chief deputy of the Graham County Sheriff's Office, George said he has been a born-again Christian since he was eight. He attends Blessed Hope Baptist Church.
George holds Advanced Law Enforcement certifications from both the North Carolina Criminal Justice Center and the N.C. Sheriff’s Center. He is also a graduate of the N.C. Chief Deputy Leadership Institute and oversaw 39 employees while chief deputy.
George said the recent disconnect of a working relationship between the Graham County Sheriff’s Office and the Cherokee Indian Police Department is due to legalities not included in the mutual aid agreement that exists between the two entities. He added that legal counsel has pointed out that if a sheriff’s office deputy responds to a call for assistance on tribal land, there is a liability issue – and vice versa. However, George said he is “absolutely” open to the idea of working with the agency.
Stating that the Graham County Sheriff's Office's controversial search and rescue boat was purchased as part of a grant, George did point out the need for a boat – "Do I think the need for that boat? No." Shared by Graham and Swain counties, George said Fontana Lake has 550 houseboats that the two counties are responsible for servicing.
When asked a vague question about teenage drivers, George said he would leave citations regarding traffic violations up to his deputies.
As a quick response to a two-part question, George said internal conflicts would be handled and he would not resign from office.
In response to a question about illegal immigrants being charged in Graham County – and if a candidate would support ICE – George said he would, if the immigrant had a "violent, criminal history."
George said he does not believe the office of sheriff should have term limits, stating that stability and success should be rewarded.
“Community First” is something George has focused on throughout his campaign. He said he would ask his officers to become more involved with the community, “on- and off-duty.”
Terry Grey
Grey said he has relied heavily on Jesus throughout his campaign, including spending the day of the forum itself in prayer. He stated that after moving to Graham County, he “found more faith and love for Jesus than he had ever had.” Grey registered as a Republican once he turned 18.
When asked about volunteer work, Grey said he and his family have taken in several families since moving to the county – in an effort to try and help those in need. The Grey family has also coordinated several trash pick-ups along roads in the county, and has been active in both their church and with athletic programs at Robbinsville High School.
The room broke into laughter when Hensley pulled an question that asked Millsaps and Grey, “If I vote for you, do I get a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card?”
Grey smiled and said that no matter if you’re an underage driver or an elderly individual caught breaking into a residence, there are consequences to breaking the law.
Grey said, "You can't enforce the law if you're breaking the law," driving home his stance on employees being drug tested at random if he is elected. He said immediate termination would be the consequence if a test yielded positive results.
No concealed-carry permits would be denied under Grey's watch, as long as an applicant meets all necessary requirements.
Grey later stated that he has established a working relationship with the county’s magistrate judges, and can also seek outside advice if necessary on how to best seek charges in a case.
"Laws are meant to be followed," Grey said, when asked about dealing with family members as sheriff. He disclosed that he had the conversation with his immediate family, where he issued the same warning.
Grey was asked about having to make a tough decision “in the moment” and responded with a story about his time in the U.S. Coast Guard, stationed on Lake Erie. A small boat was sinking; Grey and several others were dispatched. Grey said the boat was not in much danger until the rescue crew arrived; suddenly, those in distress rushed to the back of the vessel and caused the boat to tip upright. In a split second, Grey had to decide how to best manage the situation and just as the last person on-board was rescued, the boat tipped fully and sank. Grey oversaw 4-40 individuals during his service.
Grey said term limits should be considered for the position of sheriff, stating that he would only remain in office for a two-term maximum if elected. He alluded to regional sheriffs that became "too comfortable" after being re-elected multiple times as an example and said that the term limit itself should be put to a vote.
Joseph Jones
A former Graham County Sheriff, Jones said he decided to run again after talking to county residents about alleged mistreatment by current staff at the office, stating he simply wanted to help the county. He was in charge of 35 employees when sheriff.
Regarding criminal activity involving family members, Jones said his administration would take an initial report, and then reach out to independent agencies in an effort to find an entity that would conduct an investigation and avoid a conflict of interest.
"You don't want to ruin someone's life over a traffic violation," Jones said when asked about citing teenage drivers. He would also defer to his deputies on how to handle a citation on minor incidents.
Jones said better enforcement needs to occur regarding animal cruelty in Graham County, but he does not believe the sheriff's office should oversee the operation. He envisions animal control as its own separate entity.
Panhandling and trespassing "go hand-in-hand," Jones said when asked about curbing the recent trend around the county. Jones pointed out that laws are on the books to be enforced and simply asking someone to leave a property is not going to resolve the matter.
Expanding on the topic during a later question, Jones said he worked with the N.C. Department of Transportation during his previous term as sheriff to place signage around the county that hoped to eliminate issues regarding homelessness. He recounted a story about picking up a man and woman that were living under the bridge on Five Points Road on Thanksgiving – on the promise of a meal – and upon arrival to the detention center for the dinner, the individuals departed, stating, "We're not eating jail food." He was sympathetic to the homeless issue, but said that individuals will also have to reach a point where they want help before they will receive it.
The current size and condition of the Graham County Detention Center makes treating drug offenders difficult while in custody, Jones later said. He also recognized the recidivism rate of criminals that are arrested, get a lenient sentence and are soon back in custody on similar charges. Jones wants to combat the drug problem head-on, stopping it before it enters Graham County.
If elected, Jones said his first three priorities would be to hire more personnel; tackling the drug problem; and improving community relations.
Jones’ idea for more community input is to launch a Graham County Sheriff’s Office Advisory Board, which would include one resident from each voting precinct of the county – as well as Snowbird and the Town of Robbinsville – to meet with the sheriff and deputies monthly. The pitch would allow for feedback on a consistent basis, positive or negative. He also would ask his deputies to be more visible at local businesses and establishments.
Mitch Millsaps
A native of Graham County, Millsaps said he grew up in a Baptist church and professed to be a Christian. Adding to the conversation, he stood on his belief in the separation of church and state – saying that violators of the law need prayer but should also face consequences for their actions.
Millsaps has spent what he described as "several" years working in fire and rescue, and currently serves as a captain with the Snowbird Fire Department. He was also at the helm of the Robbinsville Band Booster program for seven years and still donates firewood to residents in need. Millsaps had six employees under his supervision in 2003.
A registered Republican since he turned 18, Millsaps said one of his reasons for running was to be a help to the county, admitting that he has lost friends to the drug epidemic throughout the years.
Millsaps said he encountered an illegal license check one night – even being asked to hand over his entire wallet – which he will use to make sure his deputies do not make the same mistake if he is elected.
Millsaps smiled and said, “Absolutely not,” when asked about getting the free pass from jail. He shifted to a more serious tone and said that if someone breaks the law, you either get a citation or you’re go to jail.
Millsaps said he would accompany a deputy to consult with a magistrate judge directly if questions arose about what charges to pursue on a case.
Millsaps also said he supports ICE, adding his belief that fentanyl is moved by illegal immigrants. Millsaps said he has personally called ICE to have a house raided twice, with eight individuals being deported as a result.
With training and a felony-free background, Millsaps said there was "no reason" an individual should not be able to obtain a concealed-carry permit if he is elected sheriff.
Deputies and all pertinent employees will be drug tested at random if Millsaps is elected, with no exceptions.
Caleb Stiles
Stiles is a born-again Christian, saved at the age of 25 at Lone Oak Baptist Church.
He attended Tri-County Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training course in 2016. Stiles has spent the majority of his career as a K-9 officer.
Stiles said one of his reasons for running was to repair the relationship between the Graham County Sheriff’s Office and the Cherokee Indian Police Department, noting that night shifts often have just one county deputy on patrol. Tribal officers and state troopers serve as emergency back-ups as needed, but cover a wider area than Graham County and cannot always respond immediately.
He later stated that he owns property in the East Buffalo community and does not want to see tax increases. Stiles added to the statement by noting that – during his current service as the Town of Andrews’ Police Chief – he trimmed the budget by $200,000 and “managed to do more with less,” pointing out that fiscal responsibility is germane.
He said internal conflicts would be handled and said that "no matter what, I will never resign," when asked if the pressures of the job could force him out of office.
He sees "no reason" to keep the Graham County Sheriff's Office's search and rescue boat. "Has everyone seen it? Enough said."
Stiles was also placed in a situation where he had to act in a split second, with the incident occurring in Cherokee County. Stiles said he responded to a call where an individual was under the influence of methamphetamine; had been awake for several days; was brandishing a firearm; and holding his family hostage. The family escaped the situation unharmed and Stiles later negotiated with the individual at the door, while pointing a gun and the other person still holding the gun – albeit downward. The individual eventually surrendered, without incident.
Early in his career, Stiles was dispatched on a call involving his uncle. While not going into the particulars of the incident, Stiles said he handled the call like any other and did not regret the decision.
Later in the forum, Stiles said that the pitfalls of addiction eventually affect someone in everyone's family. He also said that until an individual who is homeless and caught up in addiction takes the necessary steps to receive help, nothing will change. He added that while the local drug epidemic will never be completely eliminated, it can be managed in a more efficient manner.
Logging 50-hour weeks in his current role, Stiles admitted he will have to play catch-up on learning more about the county if elected. He currently oversees six employees.
One-stop voting
For those eager to cast their ballot early, one-stop voting is underway. There are both Republican and Democrat races being contested; only local races will appear on the Republican ballot.
Voters can stop by the Graham County Board of Elections Office (196 Knight St., Suite A, Robbinsville) weekdays, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., to cast their ballots ahead of the March 3 primary. The polls will also be open for one Saturday session: Feb. 28, from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Voting will not be open Monday, March 2.
As of Tuesday evening, 284 early ballots had been cast.
Anyone wishing to run as an Unaffiliated candidate must have the minimum amount of required signatures from registered county voters by the primary.