ASHEVILLE - Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller and his political opponent, Gary Parris, butted heads over a range of issues at a candidate forum hosted Oct. 2 by the Council of Independent Business Owners. Among issues on which they clashed were mental health, staffing issues and jail overcrowding.
The forum started with introductions before launching into a lengthy question and answer session.
Miller, a Democrat, is a two-term county sheriff who was first elected to the office in 2018. He is running for his third term. A 1981 graduate of Asheville High School, Miller said that he spent 11 years in the Army as a member of the military police, and he served with the Asheville Police Department for 25 years. He said that he is running for a third term because
"there's work still to be done" transforming the sheriff's office into a leading law-enforcement agency.
Parris, a Republican who grew up in Alexander, said he is a 22-year Navy veteran with two master's degrees and experience teaching on a college level. In 2022, he retired as a captain at a state prison.
Many of the questions asked during the forum highlighted the priorities of each candidate; the staffing of the sheriff's office frequently came up.
When asked about how to develop and retain staff, Miller said he has tried to increase the pay for deputies. He also said that hiring can be difficult, as prospective detention officers know they'll be dealing with people with mental illnesses.
Parris pointed out that several years ago,the county settled a lawsuit in a jail death for $2.2 million. (The death occurred in 2017, before Miller was sheriff.) He said turnover in the jail is high and that the sheriff's office is some 80 deputies short right now. He said he wants to direct county money toward hiring more deputies.
"We got to invest in our deputies and their families," he said. "We can do a better job, and I will."
Miller said afterward the figure Parris cited is not accurate. The sheriff's office did not immediately respond to a Citizen Times request for the correct figures
Other questions related to homelessness in Asheville, which is not in the Sheriff's Office's jurisdiction. In one instance, the candidates were asked how they could combat the growing homelessness epidemic in Asheville.
Miller said homelessness is complex and not an issue any agency can tackle alone.
"There needs to be a collaboration done with how we work with the city and how we combat the homelessness," he said.
Parris said that "there's no accountability in Buncombe County." He said that people are sent to Asheville from other areas for addiction treatment, but there's nothing that ensures those people go to treatment as they should.
"My job as the sheriff is to have a relationship with all sheriffs, who I can call and find out where they're coming from," and then get them where they're supposed to be, he said.
The candidates were also asked whether they support Iryna's Law, a measure that limits the ability of people charged with violent offenses, as well as repeat offenders, to be allowed out of jail on bond. The law was passedfollowing the August 2025 killing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte.
Prior to Iryna's Law being passed, people committing serious crimes were released from jail," Parris said. He said he supports Iryna's Law because it keeps those people off the streets.
Miller said Iryna's Law has contributed to overcrowding in the jail.
"So part of this is saying, how do we help people who are in need?" He said his stance is not soft on crime, but "smart on crime."
"Part of that is how do we get to where we're helping people where they are, and then they're in our jail, what kind of solutions do we have to get them to not return to our jail?" he said.
One person asked if a warrant is required to get the Sheriff's Office to detain someone for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
Miller said if there is a signature from a judicial official, his office will enforce the law.
Parris said if the sheriff's office brings people into the facility, they should research whether someone has a detainer and enforce it. He cited H.B. 10, which requires sheriffs to cooperate with ICE, and H.B. 318, known as the Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act, which took effect Oct. 1 and expanded the requirements of H.B. 10.
H.B. 318 requires that sheriffs hold undocumented inmates for 48 hours past their release date and notify ICE two hours before release.
"They're supposed to work more closely with ICE. That's not happening now," Parris said.
The candidates also touched upon mental health. They were asked if they could work with HCA Healthcare, the entity that operates Mission Hospital, to develop a mental health facility in Buncombe.
Miller said there have been discussions of transitioning the former Craggy Correctional Center, whichclosed in summer 2026 due to staffing issues,into a mental health facility. Miller said his jail holds more than 200 people with mental health issues who are not getting the care they need.
"The right facility is a mental health facility," Miller said. "That will actually meet people where they are and help people who have mental health issues."
Parris said he is open to a collaboration. He said the Craggy facility would be a great property for that kind of use, "should the county decide to go that route."
"I'll be glad to help in any way I can," he said.
Kara Fohner is the Public Safety Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email her at kfohner@usatodayco.com or call her at 980-241-8671.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Buncombe sheriff hopefuls spar over jail staffing, mental health
