Gino 'Rocks' Richmond County Sheriff's Creek – Roundtree Eliminated

Richmond County voters were ready for a change Tuesday and replaced Sheriff Richard Roundtree with Eugene “Gino Rock” Brantley, effective January 1.

In uncertified results, Brantley finished Tuesday's Democratic primary runoff with 10,087 votes, or 52.77 percent, to Roundtree's 9,027 votes, or 47.23 percent.

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The two men faced off after neither he nor Roundtree nor retired U.S. Air Marshal Bo Johnson won 50 percent of the vote on May 21.

Johnson threw his support behind Brantley, a former sheriff's deputy who now works for the Richmond County Marshal's Office, after the primary.

“The community should consider itself blessed,” Johnson said at a watch party when the results were announced.

“He has a very good work ethic, the best I've seen in a long time, and a very caring heart. He truly loves Richmond County and he loves the people of Richmond County. Once people get to know him better like I do, I think they'll learn to love him a little bit like I do.

Johnson was by his side Monday as Brantley unveiled his plans for his first 100 days in office, which include efforts to combat crime in the inner city.

Several downtown business owners said they supported Brantley for his stance against downtown street crime, and he won several downtown voting districts.

In total, Roundtree won 29 precincts and Brantley won 38 in countywide elections.

Brantley led Roundtree in all but one precinct in District 3, which is Summerville and west Augusta, and in District 7, the Washington Road corridor, while Roundtree received more votes in areas of south of Augusta and Hephzibah.

The atmosphere was jubilant at the downtown Hyatt where fans watched the results arrive.

Brantley's mother, Vicki Brantley Halls, said her son lost his father in 1992, but before that his father instilled virtue in their children.

“From our youngest child – we had four sons and a daughter – he said nothing comes to a sleeper except a dream,” she said. “He let his sons and daughter know that if you want something, you have to stand up.”

Brantley did it, she said, and needed to know that “his mother, his siblings and the neighborhood are all behind him, all the way,” Halls said. “I know it will bring wonderful change for all citizens.”

In a speech, Brantley thanked his wife, family, friends and campaign team, including campaign manager Jorge Diez.

“When I hired this man, I started to gain traction because they knew his reputation, they knew his leadership,” Brantley said of Diez.

Brantley said he looks forward to regularly engaging with others, including the public and sheriff's staff, rather than being an isolated figure.

“People want to feel like they’re part of what’s happening,” he said. “I watch how Mayor Garnett Johnson shows up in public and people love being able to see you and talk to you and interact with you. It’s just my personality, so I love that part of the interaction,” he said.

Having taken office in January, Brantley said he will begin working to improve morale within the sheriff's office.

“The first thing I want to do is meet with all the guys, sit down with them and let them know what direction we're going to go in, to kind of improve the culture and morale at the sheriff's office.” he said.

“We have a lot of great men and women who wear this uniform and put their lives on the line and just want them to know that they are appreciated and that they matter and that we can do great things,” said Brantley.

There are no Republican candidates to oppose Brantley in the November general election, but candidate Richard Dixon is trying to gather enough signatures to run for office as an independent.

Lyons becomes Superior Court judge

Augusta attorney Charles HS Lyons III won the nonpartisan runoff for the Augusta Circuit Superior Court judgeship held by retiring Chief Judge Daniel J. Craig.

Lyon received 14,526, or 65.1 percent, of the votes to fellow Augusta attorney Matt Matson's 7,786, or 34.9 percent, in the two-county Augusta Circuit.

Lyons won Burke County with 58.58 percent and Richmond County with 65.49 percent of the vote.

“I want to thank the people for your support and look forward to working hard as the next Superior Court judge,” Lyons said. “I won’t let them down.”

Lyons said his initial plans were to “make sure I know the process, focus on what I can to reduce the backlog (of cases) and try to educate people on how our court works superior”.