Bulloch County sheriff’s Sgt. Noel Brown defeated Chief Deputy Jared Akins in a sometimes contentious contest Tuesday in the Republican primary for Bulloch County sheriff.
Now, he will face Democratic candidate Keith Howard in the Nov. 8 general election.
Brown won with 57 percent of the vote, pulling in 4,843 votes compared to Akins’ 3,674 votes, or 43 percent.
With a campaign maelstrom of yard signs, car magnets and TV, radio and newspaper ads, the hotly contested race drew hordes of supporters for both candidates.
“Congratulations to everybody involved in the campaign,” Brown said after the win. “I love each and every one of them. Everybody ran a good, clean campaign, and my hat is off to them.”
He said he is ready for the next part of the race.
“Now we have to go and face Democrat Keith Howard,” he said. “My nose will be to the grindstone and everybody with me.”
He also had praise for Akins.
“My hat goes off to Jared,” Brown said. “He was very good to me, and I was good to him. We were very courteous to each other.”
The two have worked together in the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office for about 15 years.
Akins said: “I appreciate all the votes, support and prayers. That’s the way the process works. They (voters) make the decisions, and we abide by them. “
He said he would not publicly endorse either candidate, Howard or Brown, in the campaign for election to the office in November.
“Everybody has a right to vote for who they want to,” he said. “I love the office, and it has been home to me for a long time. I don’t think I have the right to tell anybody who to vote for.”
He also expressed gratitude for his supporters.
“I am grateful to everyone for all that has been given to us,” he said. “Without it, this would not have been possible.”
Howard said that he is ready to begin the campaign against Brown.
“I congratulate both Brown and Akins for stepping up to the plate and giving citizens a choice,” he said. “I’m looking forward to November and the debates (with Brown).”
Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414.