Owenby, Wright win primaries in Transylvania, Polk sheriff races

With all the federal and state primaries on Tuesday night, there were some local county races of interest, including two for sheriff.

In Transylvania County, Chuck Owenby won as the Republican candidate in a close race with Chase Owen. Owenby finished with 2,272 votes (44.65 %), while Owen ended up with 1,990 votes (39.11 %). The other candidate running was Kevin Creasman, who finished with 826 votes (16.23 %).

Owenby will now run in the general election on Nov. 8 against Democratic candidate William Hemphill III and Benny Frady (unaffiliated). The winner will replace current sheriff David Mahoney, who announced he would not be seeking re-election.

Owenby, 46, is a Brevard High and Mars Hill College graduate. He is currently a lieutenant at the sheriff's office and holds a bachelor's degree in sociology with a concentration in criminal justice. 

He is the twin brother of Chad Owenby, who was a longtime basketball and softball coach at Brevard High School. Chad Owenby stepped down as girls basketball coach in March 2020 but stayed on as the school's assistant softball coach.

In Polk County, voters made it clear that they are happy with their current sheriff. Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright will serve another term after he was voted as the top candidate in the Republican primary against his lone challenger, Daniel Elliott. 

Wright received more than twice the votes of Elliott (2,042 to  659). 

Wright was elected sheriff in 2018. There is no Democratic challenger, so Wright will be unopposed in the general election in November.