Lt. Chuck Owenby Looks Like Winner of Primary Race to Replace Sheriff David Mahoney

Though the results were unofficial Tuesday night, he led his two opponents, both longtime deputies at the department.

BREVARD — Lt. Chuck Owenby, who oversees professional standards and training at the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, appeared to secure the Republican nomination Tuesday over two other veteran deputies in the race to replace longtime Sheriff David Mahoney.

Owenby, 46, who had touted his extensive community work as well as his law-enforcement service, led Lt. Chase Owen, the agency’s chief detective, by several percentage points, according to the unofficial tally completed Tuesday night.

Kevin Creasman, who previously served as operations captain, was farther back in the race. Creasman, who has been with the agency for about 30 years, was abruptly placed on patrol duty in March for undisclosed reasons.

Owenby received about 45 percent of the vote. Primary candidates in North Carolina must receive at least 30 percent to avoid a runoff. If the current results are certified, Owenby will face two candidates in the general election: Democrat William Hemphill, who boasts of a long career as a master trooper with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and unaffiliated candidate, Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Benny Frady, supervisor of security at the Transylvania County Courthouse.

The disciplinary actions against Creasman, as well as a requirement that all four deputy/candidates take a leave of absence, upended the race to replace Mahoney, who announced last year that he will retire after 16 years on the job.

Mahoney, citing state laws protecting personnel information, said he could not say why Creasman had been disciplined. Creasman later issued a statement that suggested the action was political but did not offer details explaining this conclusion.

The race was the only countywide primary in Transylvania.

Owenby, in about 19 years with the agency, has served as, among other positions, a patrol sergeant and assistant team leader on the Special Response Team. In his current job, which he’s held since 2017, his campaign announcement said, “he is responsible for all in-service training, internal affairs and background checks for new hires for the department.”

But Owenby, a longtime assistant baseball coach at Brevard High School, said his career has also been distinguished by his work outside of the agency, with groups including Smart Start of Transylvania and the Cindy Platt Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County.

In his campaign, he said he planned to expand and deepen the agency’s connection with the community if elected. None of the candidates immediately responded to requests for comment Tuesday night.

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