Get to Know Clay County Sheriff Candidates

The following information was provided to the Clay County Republican Party and then sent to media outlets as a press release.

MARK BUCHANAN

Mark is 60 years of age and was born and raised in Sylva, NC. Mark attended Western Carolina

University and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement in 1983.

Mark worked for the Jackson County, NC Sheriff’s Office as a Patrol Officer and Detective for 6-

1/2 years. Mark then began employment with the NC State Bureau of Investigation until

retirement in 2011. Mark retired as the Special Agent in Charge for the 6 western most NC

counties.

After retiring from the NC State Bureau of Investigation, Mark continued service as a volunteer

sworn Deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. Mark has continually retained his sworn

status with all required yearly training until current. Mark has received 3425 hours of

specialized training over the past 38 years.

Throughout his career, Mark has served as a Patrol Deputy, supervised a variety of personnel,

and investigated most every crime imaginable. These Investigations include public/police

wrongdoing, drug cases, financial crimes, homicides, etc.

Mark and his wife, Rhonda, have two daughters, ten grandchildren. All of our immediate family

are currently living in beautiful Clay County.

Mark is a member of Hayesville First United Methodist Church, Dillsboro Masonic Lodge, and Order of the Eastern Star. Mark actively volunteers with the Hinton Rural Life Center and the Nomads. The Nomads are traveling group for mission and disaster relief work of all kinds.

Mark and his family recently made the decision to run for Clay County Sheriff when the current Sheriff announced he would not seek a second term. Mark is especially motivated to make Clay County a safe and secure place for his family and the citizenry in general to live and prosper.

GEORGE ELVER

My name is George Elver and I am running for Clay County Sheriff. My entire career has been in service to my country and my community. My service started when I became a military police officer in the United States Marine Corps. I continued serving at county sheriff’s offices in positions ranging from patrol, patrol supervisor, SWAT and sniper team leader to investigations.

It is my goal to continue to serve the community in which my wife and I have chosen to raise

our children, as Sheriff of Clay County. If elected sheriff, I intend to focus on providing the

deputies with the necessary training needed to professionally and effectively confront the

illegal drugs plaguing our county. I also plan on providing educational presentations to the

children, parents, educators and other members of the community to help address the

targeting of our children by those who wish them harm. Additionally, I will implement a

community oriented policing program which will encourage communication between the

sheriff’s office and civilians and will help us better understand the needs of our community.

These are just a few examples of the many goals I have for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office if

elected sheriff.

For a full list of my goals or to contact me, you can find me on Facebook @ George Elver for

Clay County Sheriff.

JOE SHOOK

My name is, Joe Duckett Shook, one of four boys born in Waynesville, Haywood county, North

Carolina to Donald and Virginia Shook. My middle name was chosen by my Mother after the

name of the Doctor who delivered all of her children.

I have two daughters: five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

I was raised in Leicester, Buncombe County, North Carolina on Rabbit Ham Road. As a

youngster I lived and worked on my father and mother’s dairy farm. Being a farmer’s son tends

to give one a strong work ethic.

I left Mom and Dad’s far at age 21 and worked for a trucking company out of Franklin, Macon

County, North Carolina. It was here in Macon County I met my mentor, Sgt. H. T. Ferguson, a

member of the North Carolina Highway Patrol. It was at Sgt. Ferguson’s suggestion that at age

25 I enrolled in Highway Patrol Basic School in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After completion of Basic School I was assigned to Clay County, North Carolina where I started and spent 23 years of my career. After 30 years with the Highway Patrol I retired and 4 years later, in November of 2006, I was elected Sheriff of Clay County where I served for 4 years.