The two Democrats who are challenging Sheriff Richard Roundtree in this week’s primary have swung back at the incumbent’s Saturday’s remarks on a local talk show.
On Saturday, the sheriff said Bo Johnson and Eugene “Gino Rock” Brantley want to run the largest full-service sheriff’s office in the state of Georgia. “And they never supervised five people,” Roundtree said.
Johnson, a former RCSO deputy and federal air marshal, said Monday that Sheriff Roundtree seemed conceited in the interview on Barber Shop Talk Live.
“The one thing I find interesting about Roundtree is the arrogance that shines through when he refers to his challengers’ lack of leadership experience,” Johnson said in a statement. “In Gino Brantley’s case, I can understand Roundtree commenting and giving his opinion because Brantley has spent his entire career here in Richmond County; therefore, his leadership experience, or the lack thereof, is common knowledge.”
Johnson said Sheriff Roundtree has no personal knowledge or understanding of his previous role as a Federal Air Marshal.
“I served with distinction as a senior agent for the last twelve years of my twenty-plus years of service, responsible for teams of agents, carrying out missions both domestic and international in a multitude of operations,” Johnson said.
Johnson also took a dig at the sheriff’s disciplinary problems when he worked under Sheriff Ronnie Strength.
“I also served with distinction and free of any disciplinary action that would have justified being demoted, stripped of rank, removed from the assigned position, suspended without pay, and twelve months of probation, all of which Roundtree cannot claim,” Johnson said.
Meanwhile, Brantley said the sheriff’s interview with local business John Milton shows Roundtree is “out of touch.” He seemed to be referring to the host’s questions about Sheriff Roundtree’s weight, which led the sheriff to respond that he was an executive who wasn’t chasing suspects anymore.
“I ain’t jumping out of the car running after anybody. Those days are over,” Roundtree said. “I am the athletic director. I ain’t on the field. OK? I am just saying. I am up in the box. I am up in the box with the refreshments and the snacks. Let’s be honest. I am an executive.”
Brantley said he found the response to Milton’s question troubling. “As a leader, I’ve never asked a teammate to do something I am not willing to do,” Brantley said in a statement. “I refuse to live in a bubble.”
Brantley, a sergeant with the Richmond County Marshal’s Office, pledged to keep the jail, neighborhoods, and businesses safe if elected.
“The community issues are sheriff’s office issues,” Brantley said. “It’s disheartening when my opponent tries to use them as separate and distinct. Since day one I’ve committed to be an accessible, active, and approachable candidate in the sheriff’s race. It’s clear my opponent is part of the establishment and feels things are fine as they are. I disagree.”
The winner of Tuesday’s Democratic primary for sheriff will either become sheriff in January or face independent candidate Richard Dixon in November if Dixon gets the required signatures to appear on the ballot.
Here are links to John Milton’s interviews with the three candidates:
Sheriff Richard Roundtree: https://www.youtube.com/live/kwVyRBwyvN8?si=eM0YwpcK6Q1yB1tJ
Bo Johnson: https://www.youtube.com/live/H1YM-XVpwDo?si=x8WufeFjd2Y3rNOY
Eugene “Gino Rock” Brantley: https://www.youtube.com/live/SDx0__FMtMw?si=SY_fFTrHzA9hfNjC
