The Gist
Sheriff, Buncombe County
Photo of Gary Parris
Gary ParrisParris for Safety

Gary Parris

Candidate for Sheriff, Buncombe County

Republican

Background

Occupation
Retired U.S. Navy senior chief petty officer
Campaign website
parrisforsafety.com

Buncombe County native and retired U.S. Navy senior chief petty officer who worked in cryptology and naval intelligence; a former Buncombe County deputy sheriff. He holds master's degrees in strategic intelligence and public administration.

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Photo: Parris for Safety

Documented positions

Public safety

  • Pledges to rebuild and modernize the understaffed sheriff's office

    2026 Primary Voter Guide: Buncombe County Sheriff

    Candidate questionnaire · Mountain Xpress · Feb 5, 2026 · web.archive.org

    “If elected, my first priority is rebuilding and modernizing the office by investing in deputies, detention officers and their families.”
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  • Pledges the sheriff's office will not enforce for ICE

    2026 Primary Voter Guide: Buncombe County Sheriff

    Candidate questionnaire · Mountain Xpress · Feb 5, 2026 · web.archive.org

    “I don’t enforce for ICE. I coordinate with all organizations to make our county safer for everyone.”
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Government & transparency

  • Proposes bilingual public information and a sheriff's citizens academy

    2026 Primary Voter Guide: Buncombe County Sheriff

    Candidate questionnaire · Mountain Xpress · Feb 5, 2026 · web.archive.org

    “I also plan to implement bilingual public information and a bilingual website, establish a sheriff’s citizens academy”
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Courts & justice

  • Proposes fully staffing the jail with indirect supervision pods

    2026 Primary Voter Guide: Buncombe County Sheriff

    Candidate questionnaire · Mountain Xpress · Feb 5, 2026 · web.archive.org

    “I will hire and retain enough detention officers to fully staff the jail, transition from direct to indirect supervision in housing pods”
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All sources (4)

Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.