With new Fulton County elected officials being sworn in either in late December or early January, incoming politicians interviewed by the Neighbor said they are looking forward to taking the reins.
New Sheriff Patrick âPatâ Labat, who defeated incumbent Ted Jackson in the Aug. 11 Democratic primary runoff election, said heâs excited about âbeing able to engage with our community.â
Patrick âPatâ Labat
âItâs a wonderful opportunity. Voters have voted for change, and we want to be part of what the new law enforcement (in Fulton County) looks like,â he said of an effort from voters to bring new blood in at the county sheriffâs and district attorneyâs offices. âI am excited to be able to serve and canât wait (to start).â
With new Fulton County elected officials being sworn in next month or earlier this month, outgoing politicians reflected on their time in office during interviews with the Neighbor.
Sheriff Ted Jackson, who was appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue as the interim sheriff for the last six months of 2004, was elected to the post in 2008. He served as sheriff for three terms before being defeated by Pat Labat in the Aug. 11 primary runoff election.
Jackson said he inherited an office that was dealing with a federal consent decree regarding issues with the county jail and the aftermath of the 2005 incident in which inmate Brian Nichols escaped custody in the courthouse during his trial and killed four individuals, including the judge presiding over his case.