Former write-in candidate endorses Sheriff John Darr in runoff

In a Monday afternoon post to her Facebook page, former sheriff’s candidate Pam Brown endorsed incumbent Sheriff John Darr in Tuesday’s runoff against Democratic challenger Donna Tompkins.

That makes her Darr’s only former challenger to endorse the sheriff. Republican Mark LaJoye and Democrat Robert Keith Smith, formerly a district attorney’s investigator whom the elections board disqualified March 30 from the Democratic Primary, endorsed Tompkins in a news conference on Nov. 15.

“Good Evening Supporters!” reads Brown’s Facebook post that appeared about 3:45 p.m. Monday. “Tomorrow is Election Day and I have prayed and prayed for my God to point me in the right direction. I can NOT vote for someone portraying to be a Democrat as Donna Tompkins has done. When I decided to run against John DARR I felt the Sheriffs Office needed change and wanted to help make things better for the community and Sheriffs dept employees. Yes we all feel that we know what's in the best interest of the city and employees, Im also aware that DARR has been through a lot but at the end of the day when you come into a position you have to learn and make mistakes in order to get to where you feel the agency needs to be. I will support John Darr on Dec.6th in hopes of continuing my fight as well to make the community and Sheriffs Dept a better agency. Please Go out and Vote!”

Brown could not immediately be reached for comment. A message on her cell phone said its voice-mail was full and could record no incoming calls. Attorney Mark Shelnutt, who has represented Brown, confirmed the endorsement.

Hers was not the only last-minute endorsement in the runoff. Columbus Councilor Glenn Davis sent out an email Sunday endorsing Tompkins.

“She has worked in almost every department in the Sheriff's Office over the last 30 years,” Davis wrote. “She has a Masters in Public Administration and is committed to reducing costs at jail, will submit detailed budgets, and then operate within budget like other city and public safety departments.”

Along with Smith, the county elections board disqualified Brown on March 30 for failing to meet a filing deadline. The board later disqualified Tompkins and LaJoye for similar reasons, but a Superior Court judge overturned the board in their case.

A different judge upheld the board’s disqualifying Smith and Brown. Brown then qualified to run as a write-in candidate.

In the Nov. 8 General Election, Tompkins had 29,866 votes to Darr’s 21,608, or 44.3 to 32 percent. With LaJoye taking 20.2 percent and Brown drawing 3.4 percent, neither of the top two had the majority needed to win outright.

This story was originally published December 5, 2016 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Former write-in candidate endorses Sheriff John Darr in runoff."