Richmond County sheriff candidate Eugene “Gino Rock” Brantley held a press conference on Wednesday morning to showcase endorsement from a former opponent as he heads into a run-off election against Richard Roundtree.
After Roundtree took only 49.12% of votes in the Democratic primary, while Brantley received 27.82%, voters have the potential to elect a new county sheriff on June 18 and prevent Roundtree from starting a fourth term.
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“I think it sends out a message that people want change here in Augusta and that we are in dire need of new leadership,” Brantley said. “They are willing to follow different leaders here – like myself and Mr. Johnson – to bring our city back to where it’s safe.”
Finishing in third place with 23% of votes, Bo Johnson, a retired sheriff’s deputy and federal air marshal, said that he hoped people who supported him in May’s election will now cast their vote for Brantley.
“This election is extremely important,” Johnson said. “… everyone who lives here in the CSRA is very familiar with the issues we have here in Richmond County, and the issues that we have here are serious. With Gino running for sheriff and with the right people standing behind him, we can make a big change here in Richmond County. This could be life-changing to the community.”
With many voters not participating in the election, Brantley and Johnson are pleading with Augustans to cast their vote in June.
“We need to make sure that we get out and vote. Voter turnout was relatively low,” Brantley said. “Your voice and your support is what matters, and you can only affect change if you go to the polls and vote for change.”
During the press conference, Brantley stated three points he wishes to address in his first 100 days if elected as sheriff: jail reformation and improvement, bringing back a dedicated traffic division and reinstating a former DUI task force and answering alarm phone calls from the community.
“I want to ensure the safety of the citizens here in Richmond County. That’s the most important thing – that we all feel safe whether we’re in jail, whether we’re working the jail or we’re out in our community,” Brantley said. “The citizens have a right to feel safe.”
With dated, broken or inconsistent locks on pods, Brantley said he believes the county jail needs some major repairs in order to prevent any more violent occurrences.
“We have to have a program that also ensures that deputies can take care of themselves – a physical fitness program,” he said. “That’s one of the things I’m going to require – the deputies to have to have some sort of exercise programs to make sure that they can take care of themselves if they’re ever in a tight situation.”
After being involved in an intense car accident in 2012, Brantley said he understood the trauma one faces behind reckless driving – something he believes has become a dangerous Augusta habit.
“Now more than ever we see, if you pull up to any traffic light and you sit there, when the light turns green we see cars just repeatedly run those red lights,” he said. “… I see it everyday. So, we’ve got to get back to making our city safe, and that’s part of our citizens’ safety here as they commute to and from work.”
Planning to differ from Roundtree’s leadership, Brantley said he will also highly prioritize transparency with the community.
“Transparency builds community trust and when you have a transparent office there is nothing to hide,” he said. “I think honesty builds that community trust and legitimacy that police officers need to do their job.”
Supporter and Augusta native Lee Powell said he believes so many are allowed to violate traffic laws due to a lack of staffing at the sheriff’s office.
“You’re sitting at a red light and there’s an officer next to you, and then three people run the red light right in front of him and he does nothing,” Powell said. “The reason I heard is because they are so low on people that they don’t want them tied up in court over traffic issues.”
As Brantley actively serves the community as a sergeant with the Richmond County Marshal’s Office, Powell believes Brantley’s combined experiences from both of the county’s major law enforcement organizations will allow him to compare different methods and solutions for ongoing concerns.
“I think Gino is going to do a great job,” he said.
Fully endorsing Brantley, Johnson said he believes Brantley has the experience and the “heart” to cause true lasting change in the CSRA.
“I think at this point Gino is definitely the best man for the job. Moving forward we need someone who cares about the county and someone who cares about the people,” he said. “Not only does he bring experience but he brings a big heart, and I think that resonates with a lot of people here. It resonates with me.”
Among the many initiatives he wishes to implement if elected, Brantley said he will also endeavor to create youth-focused programs by partnering with experienced juvenile detention workers in hopes of keeping minors safe.
“Prior to joining the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, I was a recreation director for two years, and we developed basketball programs, we developed programs for seniors and just different things to get the community engaged,” he said. “… if we know they’re in a gym, they’re not out committing senseless acts of violence.”
In addition to organizing youth-centered programs, Brantley said regular patrols can also help to keep youth more safe and protected against gun and gang violence.
“To reach the youth, you often have to go where they are and meet them where they are, and that also goes back to community policing – that includes having officers work a beat,” he said. “Getting back to the policing we used to do that was meaningful – where you had one-on-one conversations with the youth … you have to be in these neighborhoods.”
Following June 18, the winner of the run-off election will then face off against any Republicans, which could potentially include Richard Dixon, if he collects enough signatures to run as a candidate on the ballot.
“I’m encouraging you to go early vote on June 10-14,” Brantley said. “… your voice matters, but you have no voice if you don’t vote.”
