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Franklin Mayor And Macon County Sheriff Won’t Seek Re-Election

Courtesy of Town of Franklin
Franklin is the county seat of Macon County.

Franklin Mayor Bob Scott announced this weekend that he won’t be seeking re-election in a letter to the editor titled, “Bob’s Swan Song.”

“It’s time for me to pack up my bust of Harry Truman and my 'No Sniveling' desk plaque and move on.  I will not be seeking a fifth term as mayor,” said Scott in the letter.

Scott says that part of his decision was based on the fact that current Town Council Member Jack Horton has recently filed to run for mayor. Scott says in the letter that if elected, “Franklin will be in good hands with Jack.” 

His final plea to the townspeople is: “Please never allow Franklin to become partisan.  We are just fine as a non-partisan unit. Please fight to keep it non-partisan from those who want to change it for political power.” 

Macon County Sheriff Robert Holland also recently announced that he will not be seeking re-election.

“Although a difficult decision, I am incredibly thankful to have reached this milestone in my career and I am excited to have earned the opportunity to retire and start another chapter in life,” said Holland in a statement.

Holland has been sheriff in the county for 19 years. 

At least three members of the Macon County Sheriff’s Office have already announced their intent to be his replacement including Sgt. Brent Holbrooks, Lt. Clay Bryson and Lt. Dereck Edward Jones.

Lilly Knoepp is Senior Regional Reporter for Blue Ridge Public Radio. She has served as BPR’s first fulltime reporter covering Western North Carolina since 2018. She is from Franklin, NC. She returns to WNC after serving as the assistant editor of Women@Forbes and digital producer of the Forbes podcast network. She holds a master’s degree in international journalism from the City University of New York and earned a double major from UNC-Chapel Hill in religious studies and political science.
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