FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Editor's note: The video above is from a previous report.
Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat appears to have avoided a runoff following the May Democratic primary.
With 100% of the precincts reporting, Labat is ahead of his Democratic challengers. Earlier in the evening, Labat told 11Alive he was excited about where the race was standing. His Democratic challengers included Joyce Farmer, Kirt Beasley, and James JT Brown.
Labat said he was able to get a lot of things done during his first term on the job, and he's ready for the next chapter. The sheriff's office, particularly the jail, has been scrutinized after reports of jail deaths, inmates sleeping on the floor, and a Justice Department civil investigation into the conditions at the facility. A case that garnered national attention surrounded the death of Lashawn Thompson, where family members claimed he was eaten alive by bed bugs.
Labat said progress has been made to make changes at the jail.
"Out of 3,700 people with 600 people sleeping on the floor, now there's nobody sleeping on the floor, so we've done a really good job of with partnering with our justice partners," he said.
One of the latest headlines over the jail deals with the Fulton County Board of Commissioners having second thoughts about moving forward with a new facility. Last Monday, the county posted a project manager request for proposal (RFP). By Wednesday, commissioners voted to rescind that listing for several reasons. However, on election night, Labat said a replacement facility is necessary.
"I believe the message to the board is, we are here to work together to figure out what's best for the county overall," he said.
"The voters in Fulton County have confidence in not just me as a sheriff, but the sheriff's office, and we are doing a great job," he said earlier in the night. " The women and men in the Fulton County Sheriff's Office give and give and give. And it also says that it's it's time for us to really focus on what matters, and it's how we treat people. I'm excited about the voters that came out, excited about an opportunity to continue to serve."
Charles Rambo's campaign website asks for Fulton County residents to write-in vote for him on the November ballot. According to his website, he's spent years in public service.