Cherokee County commissioners accept sheriff’s resignation and declare office vacant

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners unanimously accepted the resignation of Sheriff Dustin Smith and declared the office vacant during a special meeting at the Cherokee County Courthouse on Feb. 7, 2026.

The action came during a brief session called by Chairman Alan Bryant at 4:00 p.m. Vice Chair Cal Stiles offered the invocation and County Attorney Darryl Brown, acting as clerk, read a summary of the ethics statement before formal business began. Commissioner Cal Stiles moved to accept the sheriff’s resignation; Commissioner Dan Eichenbaum seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Minutes later, Commissioner Eichenbaum moved for a Declaration of Vacancy of the Office of Sheriff; Commissioner Cal Stiles seconded. The board approved the declaration unanimously at 4:04 p.m. The board then voted to adjourn at 4:05 p.m., a motion made by Commissioner Cal Stiles and seconded by Commissioner Eichenbaum.

At 4:15 p.m., County Attorney Darryl Brown served a member of the Cherokee County Republican Executive Committee in the commissioners’ board room with the Declaration of Vacancy of Office of Sheriff, according to the meeting minutes. The minutes note that they were later approved at the board’s regular meeting on Feb. 16, 2026.

Present at the special meeting were Chairman Alan Bryant; Vice Chair Commissioner Cal Stiles; Commissioners Dan Eichenbaum and Mark Stiles; County Manager Randy Wiggins; Chief Deputy Justin Jacobs; and County Attorney and acting clerk Darryl Brown. Commissioner Ben Adams was not present. Randy Foster of the Cherokee Scout attended and recorded the proceedings.

The minutes do not specify next steps for filling the vacancy beyond the service of the declaration to the county Republican Executive Committee; no appointment, nomination, or timetable is recorded in the minutes.