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Chris Wood is originally from Stokes County, North Carolina. He attended Western Carolina University and NC State University. He lives in the Tarheel community just outside of Murphy, North Carolina and he is married and has four children.

Chris currently works in the lawn care business. He previously worked at the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, where he served as professional standards deputy, operations commander, chief deputy, and later captain of detention. He also previously worked for the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

Chris's campaign for Cherokee County sheriff is his first run for public office

Supports school safety coordination and visible, community-focused policing

Supports proactive crime enforcement and targeting repeat offenders

- Supports school safety coordination and visible, community-focused policing
- Supports proactive crime enforcement and targeting repeat offenders

Public Safety

Supports improving detention leadership and operations

- Supports improving detention leadership and operations

Jail Management

Supports restructuring investigations, warrant enforcement, and narcotics control

Supports improving investigations involving arson and responder safety

- Supports restructuring investigations, warrant enforcement, and narcotics control
- Supports improving investigations involving arson and responder safety

Criminal Justice

Chris Wood

Chris Wood currently works in the lawn care business. He previously worked at the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, where he served as professional standards deputy, operations commander, chief deputy, and later captain of detention. He also previously worked for the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

Alejandra Gracias

Buket Urgen

Dustin is from Murphy, North Carolina. He attended Murphy High School and Southwestern Community College. He completed Basic Law Enforcement Training in 1999. He is married to his wife, Dorothy, and they have a special needs child.

Sheriff's Office | Cherokee County, NC

Elections start coming in focus with local races | Cherokee Scout ...

Dustin D. Smith is from Cherokee County. He graduated from Southwestern Community College and completed basic law enforcement training. He has a wife and son. 

Dustin is the sheriff. He works at the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, where he has been serving as sheriff since December 5, 2022. He previously worked at the Murphy Police Department as assistant chief and joined the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy in 2000 after graduating from the Basic Law Enforcement Training program in 1999.

Cherokee County evidence investigations revealed as sheriff ...

Dustin previously worked as an assistant chief and deputy. 

Dustin currently serves as the sheriff for Cherokee County. He was first elected in 2022 and is serving his first term. 

Believes in increasing the number of patrol officers and having 5 zones in the county.

Believes in lower response times in the eastern and western ends of the county as well as decreasing dangers involved with high-speed pursuits.

Supports a regional drug task force with a centralized database.

Supports community policing and building rapport with the community.

Believes the 911 Dispatch should be under the Cherokee County Emergency Management, not the sheriff's office.

- Believes in increasing the number of patrol officers and having 5 zones in the county.
- Believes in lower response times in the eastern and western ends of the county as well as decreasing dangers involved with high-speed pursuits.
- Supports a regional drug task force with a centralized database.
- Supports community policing and building rapport with the community.
- Supports concealed weapons permits.
- Believes the 911 Dispatch should be under the Cherokee County Emergency Management, not the sheriff's office.

As of January 2, 2026, Dustin D. Smith did not have a website or any information online.

Dustin D. Smith

Dustin Smith is married. He is a Christian.

Dustin is the sheriff of Cherokee County. Before he was elected sheriff, he was the assistant chief for the Murphy Police Department. He has worked in law enforcement in Cherokee County since 2000. 

Dustin is currently the sheriff of Cherokee County. He was elected in 2022 and is currently serving his first term.

Dustin Smith is from Cherokee County, North Carolina. He has an associate's degree from Southwestern Community College. He and his wife, Dorothy, have a special needs child.

Dustin is the sheriff of Cherokee County. He previously served as assistant chief for the Murphy Police Department. He has worked in law enforcement in Cherokee County since 2000. 

Dustin is currently the sheriff of Cherokee County. He was elected in 2022 and is currently serving his first term. Before being elected sheriff, he worked for the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and the Murphy Police Department.

Dustin is from Murphy, North Carolina. He attended Murphy High School and Southwestern Community College. He has a certificate in basic law enforcement training from Southwestern Community College. He lives with his wife, Dorothy, and their special needs child in Murphy.

Dustin is the Sheriff of Cherokee County. He works at the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, where he has been since December 2022. He previously worked at the Murphy Police Department as assistant chief and began his law enforcement career at the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office in 2000 after completing the Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy in 1999.

Dustin D. Smith is currently Sheriff of Cherokee County, North Carolina. He was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term.

Dustin is an assistant chief at the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, where he has worked since he was 21 years old. 

Dustin is currently the Cherokee County Sheriff. He was elected in 2022 and is currently serving his first term.

As of January 2, 2026, Sam May did not have a website or any information online.

Sam May

- The sheriff is responsible for enforcing the law, managing security in jails and courtrooms. They also oversee daily conditions of the jail and inmates in custody and serve legal documents such as warrants and eviction notices. Their ultimate responsibility is to protect the community. 

Cherokee Sheriff, Republican Primary

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Public Safety

Jail Management

Criminal Justice