Brent Holbrooks will follow in his father’s footsteps in serving Macon County as sheriff. Holbrooks was the top vote getter in the May 17 primary and the recount on June 2 showed he still had the votes to win the race.
Holbrooks said he was humbled and blessed to be elected. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to those who got out to the polls and voted. As we saw in this race, every vote counts. Thank you for having a voice in this election.”
After the May 17 primary, the results showed Holbrooks receiving 2,368 votes (32.21%) and Dereck E. Jones receiving 2,314 votes (31.57%), a difference of 54 votes. Jones requested a recount.
According to state law (163-182.7), a candidate can call for a recount of votes “if the difference between the votes for that candidate and the votes for a prevailing candidate is not more than 1 percent of the total votes cast in the ballot item.”
During the recount, 16 voting machines lined the walls in the gym at the Macon County Community Building. There was one machine for each of the 15 precincts and one to process the ballots cast during one-stop voting in Franklin. Thirty-three poll workers helped staff the recount, with one person from each political party at each machine. The recount took a little over six hours to complete and cost $7,000.
Following the addition of the provisional and absentee ballots during canvass and the recount on June 2, the results are as follows: Holbrooks – 2,374 (32.5%); Jones – 2,322 (31.54%), Clay Bryson – 1,130 (15.35%), Chris Browning – 798 (10.84%) and Bob Cook – 737 (10.1%).
According to a statement from Board of Elections Supervisor Melanie Thibault, during the recount the count at all but two precincts were the same. The count in the Burningtown precinct resulted in one less vote for Holbrooks, and the count in the Franklin one-stop precinct resulted in one less vote for Jones.
“Mr. Holbrook won the Republican nomination for sheriff and is consequently elected sheriff,” Thibault said. The sheriff’s race was uncontested with no Democratic candidates running.
Holbrooks will replace outgoing Sheriff Robert Holland, who has served in the position since 2002. Holland announced his retirement in June 2021. In an interview after the election Holland said he would be available to help the new sheriff transition into the position. “My goal is to make sure the new sheriff is successful,” he said.
Holbrooks said he will continue to work with Sheriff Holland in the coming months. “He is still sheriff until December. I’m going to honor that. It’s still his position; it’s not mine until Dec. 5 and I’m going to respect him.”
Upon taking office in December, Holbrooks said the drug problem will be his top priority, and he plans to enlist federal assistance through the Drug Enforcement Administration. “We’re going to tackle drugs head on,” he said.
Increasing patrol coverage in outlying areas, including Highlands and Nantahala, will be another concern he plans to address. “They deserve the same coverage as the rest of the county.”
Holbrooks began his law enforcement career in 1999 as a deputy with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. He said he was inspired by his father’s and grandfather’s decades of service to the county. His father, Homer, served as sheriff for 16 years before retiring in 2002.
The current sheriff came into office after a Holbrooks, and a Holbrooks will follow him after his retirement. “I think that’s really cool,” the new sheriff said.
“I am humbled to serve Macon County, and I promise to always do my best for the people and the families that live here. Thank you to all my family, friends and supporters who have worked hard on my behalf.”
- By Mia Overton/The Franklin Press