Elect Eric Giles for Sheriff Macon County

Working as a domestic violence advocate, I work with a lot of women and children who have suffered horrendous abuse. Often times, the officers are too busy, going from call to call, overrun, trying to meet the demands required of them, to get to follow up with the victims. Sometimes, officers just don't want to work with DV victims. Over the past several years in working with REACH of Clay County as the Court/Legal Advocate, I have worked side by side with Eric Giles. He has always gone above and beyond to help our agency, no matter the time, day or how busy he was. He has followed up with countless victims, contacted me at all hours to make sure that he could keep them safe.

Giles has also been very actively involved in supporting our agency, helping to raise awareness and speaking at different events showing his support, not only for our cause, but also being a voice for victims.

Victims need more men like Eric to show that violence is not ok, that men can use their strength to help take a stand both against domestic violence and sexual assault.

After spending over 36 years in law enforcement, I understand what is required to be a good law enforcement officer. A commitment not only to the job, but to God, family, and the community are essential characteristics of a good leader. Eric Giles has these qualities, and I am happy to support and endorse him for the next Sheriff of Macon County.

Although I have never worked with Eric Giles, I have talked with him at length concerning his law enforcement beliefs and goals. Giles is not a politician; he is a professional law enforcement officer. Politics will not be a factor in his decisons. All decisions will be based only on what is right and legal.

He firmly believes in cooperation between all law enforcement agencies and will run the Sheriff's Office in that way. Giles also believes in giving everyone credit for what they do. He will not try to claim credit for everything, but will openly recognize the work of each individual and agency.

Eric Giles is proactive. Long before North Carolina's Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission voted on Friday, May 18th, to require all School Resource Officers to complete training authored by the North Carolina Justice Academy, Giles was saying that all Macon County SRO's needed special training. In addition, he wants all school employees and volunteers to receive training and guidelines to be prepared to protect our students.

Eric Giles has prepared himself well to be Sheriff through training in multiple areas of law enforcement. He also has experience in all areas of law enforcement.

This is a critical time for the residents of Macon County. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, Macon County's crime rate has increased 13.88% over the past two years. Drugs are rampant and there appears to be no decrease in that activity.

The voters of Macon County have a decision to make. Do you want a politician or a trained professional as your Sheriff? If you prefer a professional law enforcement officer, you need to vote for Eric Giles.

One of the outstanding qualities I admired about working with Officer Eric Giles is if he said it you could count on it being true, or you could count on it to happen. Don't tell me what I want to hear...tell me the truth, because an officer is only as good as his word. Myself, a person who believes in serving professionally and with dignity, can't name one time that Giles didn't stand by his word as an officer. Eric Giiles represents an officer of character.

Our family became acquainted with Eric Giles in 2017. When we first heard he was running for Sheriff Of Macon County we contacted him and ask him if we could meet him and ask him some questions pertaining to his thoughts and goals if he were to be elected Sheriff for Macon County. He was quick to respond. My husband, brother in law, my self were not the sweetest welcoming crew that one may have hoped for. We were straight up and to the point. We let Eric know straight up that we were not interested in empty campaign promises. We ask him questions concerning the remote areas of Macon County such as Nantahala. We explained that we had been caught in the middle of the current Sheriff blaming the Current Commissioners and the Current Commissioner blaming the Sheriff as an explanation of why we do not have law enforcement in the remote areas. We explained that we had been told that the crime over here does not justify the need. We explained we had been told that the budget would not support Law Enforcement in these areas. We explained to him how crime was growing rapidly in our community. We explained how the best response time for an officer to be at the scene of a crime was 45 minutes TOPS even if it was a high level of crime being committed. To our surprise Eric had with him the figures. He took time to explain in detail how even with the current approved budget there could be, should be law enforcement in the rural areas. We did the math with him and was impressed. This was the beginning of us getting to know Eric Giles. Since then we have had many more questions come to mind and he has graciously answered all. We are Christians who never cast a vote based on political parties. We investigate, We Pray and we verify. We are proud to say that we will be supporting Eric Giles for Sheriff of Macon County. Even though we have been told our name is on some of the current administration list if we do this we choose not to be intimidated and to hold fast to our God Given Right to support what and whom we believe. We want to add that we have had the pleasure of meeting Eric's wife Trish and in a short amount of time there is one certainty She is the apple of his eye. She is a hard working person who herself has much to offer the county in which she lives. We do believe that if something is not done soon in our community we will sadly be a community that is living the nightmare no community wants to experience. The drugs, the domestic violence, the breaking and entering, the stolen property found, the hypodermic needles, the unlicensed, uninsured vehicles and the list goes on is growing rapidly. We have cried out for help. We have attended meetings, held meetings trying to get help, filed petitions,made numerous calls and all of our pleas have gone unnoticed. We are confident that a change is much needed in Macon County but it must be the right change. We Believe that Eric Giles is a Major Part of that Needed Change.