Richmond County sheriff’s primary race is too close to call

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Incumbent Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree could be headed to a runoff against challenger Gino Brantley – but the vote totals from Tuesday’s Democratic primary are too close to call the election.

With all precincts reporting in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, Roundtree had 49% of the votes, compared to 28% of the votes for Brantley.

In the three-way Democratic primary, challenger Bo Johnson had 23% of the vote.

To win the primary, a candidate would need 50% plus one vote.

With provisional ballots still out and possibly uncounted for another 72 hours, the numbers could change enough to keep Roundtree out of a runoff – so the race is too close to call.

Brantley is ready for the next round.

“We will continue to work to earn your vote,” he said in a statement. “This community deserves a sheriff that is accessible, active and approachable.”

Roundtree is the incumbent sheriff of 12 years.

The winner of this race – or the runoff, if there’s no clear winner – will appear on the November ballot.

Also hoping to appear on that ballot is independent Richard Dixon.

To do that, he’ll need to get about 6,700 signatures by July 9.

If he doesn’t get those signatures and if one of the three Democratic candidates gets more than 50% of the vote, Tuesday’s primary could decide the next sheriff.

Johnson and Brantley said Tuesday that the recurring theme of the campaign trail has been change.

“I’ve been getting great responses from people,” Brantley said. “We definitely need change, we definitely deserve better service from our sheriff’s office and that’s why I’m running.

Johnson said he’d been getting the same message from voters.

“Everywhere we go, no matter if we’re stopping to fill our gas tank, or stopping to grab something quick to eat, everyone says hey we need change and that’s what they’re looking for right now,” he said.

Roundtree wasn’t available to speak to us Tuesday.

About the candidates

RICHARD ROUNDTREE

Elected three times before, and with experience ranging from running patrol to learning from the FBI national academy, Roundtree’s confidence lies in the fact he’s been in this seat before.

“Our platform is our record. The city of Augusta has become safer over the last 12 years, and I think the citizens see that,” he said.

He touts an expanding Flock camera program that started two years ago, with eyes set on a future real-time crime center.

“We started off with 25 cameras as demos, and we are well over 100 cameras now throughout the city. There’s no exit or entry point in Augusta that they can come into Richmond County that they will not be caught on a Flock camera,” said Roundtree.

But his focus is tackling gun violence, especially aimed at our youths.

“These young kids and violence, I mean, that’s it. It’s something we have to do and it’s not just a law enforcement issue. This is going to have to be a community project,” said Roundtree.

GINO BRANTLEY

Brantley started working for the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office in 2000 and went to work for the Marshal’s Office in 2016. He’s now a sergeant who oversees evictions.

From his point of view, he says the standard has dropped.

“The state of the sheriff’s office is in a bit of disarray and the citizens of the county deserve better service from the sheriff’s office,” said Brantley.

He cites poor response times to emergencies, a lack of morale and a need for more deputies to be active in the community as reasons to run for office.

He also wants to take on a unique approach to solve overcrowding at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.

“How many of the inmates in the jail are in there because of mental health problems and probably should be in the hospital or some mental health institution and not the jail? And we probably have 20 to 25%, I would think,” he said.

Brantley says the root of solving these issues is retaining more officers. Fewer officers leaving for nearby counties would lead to more interest in joining the Richmond County cause.

BO JOHNSON

After 10 years of service as a deputy in Richmond County, Johnson spent most of his career as a federal air marshal.

Working alongside the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and law enforcement liaison, he eventually retired last year as a senior agent.

“A lot of my opposition has only worked in this area only, and that’s great that they’ve spent their time here. I feel like with myself, although I have spent some time here, I branched out,” said Johnson.

A number of concerns brought him out of retirement to run for sheriff, but retaining officers was at the top of his list.

He vowed to start a new department focused on bringing in people who want to make Augusta their permanent home.

“Back when I was a young deputy, you had a sense of pride and you could feel the respect that came from the citizens of Richmond County back then. I want to see that again. I want to see our deputies feel that pride,” said Johnson.

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