The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is throwing support behind finance director Veronica Freeman Brown, while doctors and executives are putting money behind accountant Sanford Loyd in the contest for Richmond County Tax Commissioner.
Candidates in the Nov. 8 special election were required to file only one campaign financial report, due 15 days before the election. The third candidate, appointed Tax Commissioner T. Chris Johnson, hadn’t filed his report Friday, but has through the end of the five-day grace period Monday to submit one, said Richmond County Elections Director Travis Doss.
While well-known community figures were making contributions in the tax commissioner campaigns, reports filed in three contested Richmond County Board of Education seats reflected little interest in fundraising.
MORE: Election Officers named for Southern District of Georgia’s effort to ensure voting integrity
Brown, who manages the books for Sheriff Richard Roundtree, had raised $35,757 and spent $27,360.49 as of Oct. 24. Twelve individuals or entities contributed $1,000 or more to her tax commissioner campaign, nearly all of them connected to the sheriff’s office.
Giving $2,500 to Brown were the Committee to Elect Richard Roundtree, businessman Harold Wright and the law firm of Lyons, Jones and Frails. Donating $2,000 were Roundtree and Infrastructure Systems Management, the city engineering contractor that frequently contributes to campaigns.
In addition, Roundtree himself, attorney Randolph Frails, who does legal work for the sheriff, as well as the law firm named Frails and Wilson each gave $3,000.
Georgia-Carolina Bonding donated $1,500 and Roundtree’s Chief Deputy Patrick Clayton and city sub-consultant Wilbert “Butch” Gallop donated $1,000 each.
Loyd, who previously served as the nonpartisan chairman of the Richmond County Board of Elections, had 14 contribute $1,000 or more to his campaign. He ended the reporting period raising $38,258.26 and spending $23,034.32.
His contributors included physicians Charles Youmans, who gave $1,500; Audrey Henderson, who gave $2,500 and Joseph Hobbs and Mac Bowman, who donated $1,000 each. In addition, he received $1,000 each from management professor Dalton Brannen, retired business professor Betty Blackwood and retired Georgia Power executive Walter Dukes.
Loyd’s three largest single donors, who gave $3,000 each, were Cianan Foster, listed as being in business management; Mack Lander LLC, an adult daycare business; beef plant contractor Maintenance Projects Construction and real estate agent Paul King.
MORE: Richmond officials call for longer voting hours
In elections for districts 2, 7 and 9 trustee seats on the Richmond County Board of Education, most candidates are either self-funding, incurring debt or not fundraising at all.
District 2 contender Rev. Larry Fryer reported raising $400 but spending $1,133.86, leaving him with a negative balance of $733.86. Incumbent Charlie Hannah filed an affidavit last month stating he would not raise or spend more than $2,500 on his campaign.
Challenger for District 2 and daycare business owner Yiet Knight reported raising $3,158 with a balance of $2,448.15. Her contributors gave most smaller amounts but included Rep. Gloria Frazier, the wife of Trustee Wayne Frazier, who gave Knight $200.
Consultant Brittiany Broadwater, who is challenging Charlie B. Walker Jr. for the District 7 seat, reported loaning her campaign $3,065.69. Walker has on file the affidavit of exemption (from filing reports) from his 2018 reelection campaign.
Army veteran and former candidate Christopher Mulliens reported a single contribution of $57.12 from himself in his run for District 9.
District 9 incumbent Venus Cain’s latest report showed a $1,888 balance she’s carried forward since at least July 2020 with no spending.
Susan McCord is a staff writer with The Augusta Press. Reach her at susan@theaugustapress.com.
