Latest / Mind Your Business - A Podcast Series produced by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce / 2026 Watauga County Meet the Candidates - Darin Church - Watauga County Sheriff

Transcript

2026 Watauga County Meet the Candidates - Darin Church - Watauga County Sheriff · Mind Your Business - A Podcast Series produced by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce

• 0:03
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome to this special election edition of Mind Your Business.
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_01: I'm David Jackson.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_01: The Boone Area and Blooming Rock Chambers of Commerce are proud to host our annual Meet the Candidates Forum in conjunction with the 2026 General Election.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_01: While the Watauga County Board of Education and Board of Commissioners and races for the State House and Senate were conducted as part of our in-person forum at the Appalachian Theater back on October 1st.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_01: Candidates for U.S.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_01: House, Watauga County Sheriff, and Watauga County Clerk of Court were interviewed individually.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_01: This episode features our conversation with Darren Church, the Republican candidate for Watauga County Sheriff.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: I want to thank uh everybody for hosting this forum and giving us the opportunity to discuss the future of law enforcement in Watauga County.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_00: My name is Darren Church, and I'm asking for your vote to serve as your next Watauga County Sheriff.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_00: I'm a lifelong resident of Watagua County, a 1996 graduate of Watauga High School, and I earned my associate's degree in criminal justice from Wilkes Community College.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: For the past 26 years, I've dedicated my career to law enforcement and public service, retiring as a lieutenant of investigations in December of 24.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: Also served more than 20 years in the fire service, including as fire chief.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: Throughout my career, I've worked in patrol, criminal investigations, training, administration, and leadership.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_00: I've continued my leadership development through FBI ELEDA, the North Carolina State University Law Enforcement Executive Program, and the North Carolina Justice Academy Police Chief Institute.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: I've also had the opportunity to serve on the North Carolina Criminal Justice Training Standards Commission, advisory board for criminal justice instructor program.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_00: Those experiences have taught me that public service is ultimately about people earning their trust, treating them fairly, and being accountable to the community you serve.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: I'm running for sheriff because I believe Otaway County needs fresh leadership, leadership that is visible, proactive, accountable, and willing to listen.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_00: As sheriff, I will work to strengthen the relationship between the sheriff's office and our community, take a proactive approach to crime enforcement, support and properly equip our deputies, and hold ourselves to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: I will also be a good steward of taxpayer dollars and remain committed to protecting the constitutional rights of every citizen.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: My goal is simple a sheriff's office that is present in our communities, responsive to our citizens, supportive to our deputies, and accountable for the job we're entrusted to do.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: I'd be honored to earn your trust and your vote.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you, and I look forward to answering any of your questions.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_01: Well, we'll start with the first question on the operational side of running the Sheriff's Department.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_01: The same affordable housing shortage that makes it hard for our local businesses to hire and retain workers is also something that that county government and the sheriff's department and others have had to deal with when thinking about recruiting and keeping deputies.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_01: What is your plan for the staffing of the department and how do you see any shared solutions with local employers on things like housing or child care or any of the issues that you need to be solid to make sure that you can retain the staff that you need?
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: So one way that I want to approach everything is creative create a positive culture within the sheriff's office, which fosters a team and family atmosphere, uh not an ever men for themselves.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_00: Some of the agencies that I've worked for in the past, while they were not the highest paid, you because of the culture of the department, that kind of made up for it where a whole lot of people and officers, uh, myself included, would stay just because of the culture and how we were treated.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: Pay is always going to be an issue no matter where you go.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: And right now, with the highway patrol's uh increase in their new pay, that's always going to be a struggle.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Watauga usually falls between three and seven percent below the state average for sheriff's departments on their pay, and twenty to twenty-four percent below the national average.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: So while we're still paid decent um from the some of the numbers that I was looking at, we're still um just under what they consider to be a livable wage.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm obviously going to try to fight to get the officers more money, always will.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_00: And that comes down to having good relationships with the county commissioners and the taxpayers, uh, because they're always a big help.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_00: And but a whole lot of times if the officers are treated fairly and you know you create an environment to where you focus on the officer and officer wellness, such as their physical, mental, and uh spiritual and financial wellness across the board, you can actually get them to stay.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: That's always that's always a big factor as well as the departmental culture.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_01: We have seen Wataga County's population and traffic swell dramatically at key times of year, whether that's a football weekend, the summertime, leaf season, ski season, all those types of things.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_01: Um that is also a time where local businesses need people to be able to move about freely and safely.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_01: How would you position the Sheriff's Department and its resources to make sure that seasonal population surges are met in a way that people can still flow freely through the county and businesses can count on them to make it to their doors?
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: So that basically just comes down to uh working with all our other agencies in the county, uh Highway Patrol, Blown Rock, Boom PDs, ASUPD, that's basically all of us working together, just trying to keep the traffic flowing.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_00: And, you know, if there's any wreck, watch everybody watching out for wrecks.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_00: If they are, if there are any, get them off the road as quickly as possible.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, basically just keeping everybody moving, which is uh sometimes in this county can be a challenge in itself, but it's we all pitch in together and just make it happen.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_01: Hospitality, construction, and agriculture are all major employers here in the county and often rely on immigrant labor.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_01: How would your office's approach to cooperating with fem federal immigration enforcement also balance out with communicating with local employers to make sure that they are aware of policies and also have the ability to staff the way they need to?
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_00: So the way law enforcement is structured, you know, we're under the obligation we take an oath that you know we're going to work with our federal partners, other federal agencies.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_00: Um because it all you know not only is it the right thing to do under the Constitution, uh we need their help, they need our help, and that also, you know, we sometimes if you fail to I know under the sanctuary city policy with the uh government, they can withhold funds.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_00: So if that were I know Watauga's not a sanctuary county, so you know, don't really have to worry about them withholding funds, but working with federal agencies is always something that we've always done.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: We're going to continue to do it.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: Um as far as the sheriff's office itself, you know, they're going on they're going to honor detainers.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: They they do it now.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: So that's something that I would continue to do.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: Uh but as far as going out and looking for illegal immigrants or anything of that nature, uh that's not really the sheriff's office role.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we're there to help whoever we can, and we're not there to check papers or or anything of that sort.
• 8:24
  SPEAKER_00: So uh, but we're still gonna work with our federal agencies, just like we always have.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_01: Beyond the enforcement side of this, the opioid and fentanyl crisis uh continues to directly affect the local labor pool, and that's obviously who our employers get their their talent from.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_01: How do you balance the drug enforcement side with treatment and diversion?
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_01: And do you have any plans to partner with local employers on things like recovery-friendly workplace initiatives, especially as it gets harder to hire in this community?
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_00: So on the enforcement side, I think we can do a better job of uh narcotics enforcement, drug enforcement, uh, drug interdiction out on 421 and 321, which are are two major corridors, uh which there's obviously where the biggest majority of it's coming from is up 321.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_00: But increased drug interdiction, uh narcotics investigations, which you know would lead to a whole lot of uh drug arrests.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: And as far as working with local agents or local businesses, be more than willing to sit down with them uh and try to get, if they have an employee that's going through a narcotics issue or substance abuse, you know, we'll get them in the right programs that they need.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_00: And the court system now has the diversion uh process which they go through now, which has been, from what my understanding is, has been very successful.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_00: Not only in this county, but it's been uh successful in other counties as well.
• 10:03
  SPEAKER_01: So we know that we're we're kind of on that that year or that two-year period now from Hurricane Helene, and and we've obviously had a lot of talk about that in the community here lately.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_01: Uh we saw that impact uh the way that roads, communications, uh the overall community operates just in the nature of that particular disaster.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_01: As you think about leading through it, whatever the next thing is, what is the Sheriff's Office role in coordinating with businesses to enhance a broader community response?
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_01: So commerce can start, but the community can function again.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_01: What what does the Sheriff's Department need to do to maintain its role within that type of disaster?
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: So I believe the Sheriff's Office needs to maintain the focus of being there for the community, helping any way possible, uh meeting with all the other um leaders of both the city, towns, and all the business leaders within the community, and uh just continue doing what what few things we could have done better uh with uh Hurricane Haleen, which was a catastrophic uh event which I don't think any of us was ready for.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_00: But considering what happened, I think we did very well.
• 11:26
  SPEAKER_00: And we just need to be more prepared for the next one.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_00: And that's just working together as best we can and having the resources set in there ready to go.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_01: Last of the prepared questions here.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, we have seen a lot more business growth out in the county, uh, especially with everything from housing projects to businesses actually being located out that way.
• 11:53
  SPEAKER_01: Um what would you do from the Sheriff's Department perspective to make sure that businesses had an open line of communication, to understand what they may be going through in particular areas or just hearing their concerns about, you know, crime watch, um, uh that type of thing.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_01: How would you you mentioned earlier about Sheriff's Department visibility, how would a visible Sheriff's Department help make sure that you're hearing from businesses that may be outside the city center, so to speak?
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_00: So not just having an officer present uh in those areas, but actually having them get out, talk to the business owners, talk to the residents in the area.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_00: If they see them driving down or as they're driving down the road, if they see them in their yard, actually stop and get out and talk to them.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_00: That's one thing that we used to do years ago.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: And we as law enforcement we kind of got away from.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_00: And once we've done that, communication slacked off uh between the residents and the agencies.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_00: So having the officers actually, deputies getting out, speaking with residents, speaking with the business owners is gonna be a big factor.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_00: Uh myself as the sheriff, I'd get out myself and go speak with them one-on-one.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_00: Uh hopefully, you know, as much as possible, daily or weekly basis, make a round.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_00: Uh my plan is to not be in the office as much as possible.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_00: If they need me, they can call me.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_00: That's why you we have cell phones now.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_00: So uh that's kind of a joke people have asked me, they're like, Well, are you gonna keep office hours?
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_00: I it'll be few and far between because we'll be out uh patrolling and working with the guys and actually being out in the community.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_00: So that's the best way that I can figure is to actually just get out and talk to them one-on-one.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_01: Well, like I said, that's the end of the prepared questions.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_01: Any final remarks, anything we didn't cover, or anything else you'd like to speak to?
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_00: So I guess some of my one of my biggest uh focuses that I want to see our office do is if I'm elected, I want to see a reduction in the increase in violent crime that we've had over the last few years.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_00: Not that Watauga isn't a safe county, but you know, we have had a 21% increase in uh in violent crime.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_00: And there's some things like human trafficking, uh internet crimes against kids that I want to tackle hard and uh deal with those issues.
• 14:34
  SPEAKER_00: And I really want to get the sheriff's office back on board with being visible in the public.
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_00: Uh that's those are my big things, and as far as, you know, one of those things that I think that needs to be brought back is us helping with uh funeral escorts.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_00: I think that's something that that's the very least that we can do on the service side is to be there for the families when they're going probably through one of the hardest times of their life, is you know, being there during the grieving of a loved one and pay our respects, help pay our respects to the family who we serve.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_00: Um those are the main things, but in closing, uh want to thank everyone again for hosting this forum uh to my fellow candidate and most importantly to each of you for taking the time uh to become informed before you cast your vote.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_00: You've heard about my experience, my qualifications, and my vision for the future of the Watala County Sheriff's Office, but at the end of the day, this election comes down to one simple question: who do you trust to lead our sheriff's office with integrity, professionalism, and accountability?
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_00: For 26 years I've dedicated my life to serving in law enforcement.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_00: I understand the challenges our deputies face, the expectations of our citizens, and the responsibility that comes with wearing the badge.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_00: As your sheriff, I would lead I won't lead from behind a desk.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_00: I will be visible, active, hands-on, and one who works alongside our deputies and is present in our communities, listens to our citizens, and is accountable to the people of Wata County every single day.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_00: My faith in God has guided me throughout my career and my life.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_00: It has shaped my commitment to honesty, humility, compassion, and service to others.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_00: As sheriff, those values will guide my leadership and the culture I strive to build within the sheriff's office.
• 16:41
  SPEAKER_00: I want our agency to reflect integrity, respect, and accountability and a servant's heart as we faithfully serve every citizen of Watauga County.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_00: I believe in supporting our deputies with the training, leadership, and resources they need to succeed while holding them to the highest professional and ethical standards.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_00: I believe in building trust through transparency, strengthening partnerships throughout our community, and ensuring that every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely.
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_00: This campaign has never been about politics for me.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_00: It's been about service.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_00: It's about making Wataw County safer, strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the community, and leading the with faith, integrity, and courage.
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_00: I'd be honored to earn your trust, your support, and your vote.
• 17:31
  SPEAKER_00: Together we can build a sheriff's office that serves with professionalism, compassion, and integrity, one that honors God through faithful service to our community.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_00: God bless you, and may God continue to bless Watauga County.
• 17:47
  SPEAKER_01: Well, thank you for your time and for your willingness to run.
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_01: I know that that uh running for elected office is no small feat these days.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_01: So we appreciate your willingness to come and answer these questions and wish you nothing but the best in the campaign.
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you, sir.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_01: That concludes this special edition of Mind Your Business.
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_01: Subscribers of our podcast will see these full archives for each of our individual candidate interviews, as well as the full archives of our in-person forum, broken down by race, all available on your podcast platform of choice, a benefit of being a subscriber.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_01: You can also visit Boonechamber.com for a link to our Mind Your Business archives, and we'll have a post on our main page with full access to these archives as well.
• 18:28
  SPEAKER_01: Thanks to the staff and volunteers of the Boone Area Employment Chambers of Commerce for making this forum possible.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you for your interest in our local elections.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_01: We encourage you to cast your ballot and have your voice heard in this 2026 general election.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_01: Thanks for listening.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_01: I'm David Jackson.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_01: So long, everybody.