Johns Creek's Jackson Wins Fulton Sheriff's Runoff Election

Courtesy Appen Newspapers

August 05, 2008

Fulton County residents will pick a new sheriff to replace incumbent Myron Freeman, who lost a runoff election to Johns Creek resident and former interim Sheriff Ted Jackson.Democrat Jackson will face Buckhead Republican Mike Rary, a former Fulton County Marshal and Mountain Park City Council member, in the November General Election."Who would have thought with nine candidates in the race, and I looked at myself as myself as the bottom of the heap, that we'd be here today?" Jackson asked.With 340 of 341 precincts reporting, Jackson lead with 22,142 (64 percent) to 12,525 votes (36 percent) for Freeman, the incumbent sheriff. More than 99 percent of the precincts have reported."Remember, there were nine candidates in the primary," Jackson said. "[Freeman] came out with 30 percent of the vote. But that meant 70 percent wanted him out of office, so the candidates united with the goal of a new Sheriff."

Jackson got about 9,000 more votes in the runoff than he did in the primary.He spent 33 years with the FBI and last served as special agent in charge of the Atlanta Office. Jackson served as interim Sheriff for four months in 2004 after Gov. Sonny Perdue ousted former Sheriff Jacque Barrett.

Just three months into Freeman's tenure, prisoner Brian Nichols allegedly broke loose in the Fulton County Courthouse and shot the judge of his trial and three others. In addition, the Fulton County Jail was placed under a federal court order regulating how many inmates can be housed there.In response, the Fulton County Commission has bandied about the idea of privatizing jail and courthouse security, essentially doing away with the office. However, it never pursued the legislation."People want change. They want to restore dignity, pride, confidence and commitment to the Office of Sheriff," Jackson said. "This race is larger than Fulton County, we're on the state and world stage because of the March 11 tragedy."

In other runoff news, incumbent Cathelene "Tina" Robinson's 6 percent lead held in the Democratic runoff election for the office of Clerk of Fulton County Superior Court. Robinson's 17,655 votes easily topped challenger Lewis Pittman's 15,915 total.All vote totals are unofficial.