James Brown (Fulton County sheriff candidate)

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

James Brown

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 21, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Morehouse College, 1985

Graduate

Central Michigan University

Personal

Birthplace

Detroit, Mich.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Consultant

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

James Brown (Democratic Party) (also known as JT) ran for election for Fulton County Sheriff in Georgia. He lost in the Democratic primary on May 21, 2024.

Brown completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

James Brown lives in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Brown graduated with a bachelor's degree from Morehouse College in 1985, a master's degree from Central Michigan University in 2001, and holds a doctorate in Management and Organizational Leadership. His career experience includes working in law enforcement as an instructor, Fulton County Reserve Officer, founder of a private security firm, and consultant. He has been affiliated with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Peace Corps, March of Dimes, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home in Atlanta, American Society for Industrial Security International and Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Fulton County, Georgia (2024)

General election

General election for Fulton County Sheriff

Incumbent Patrick Labat defeated Charles Rambo in the general election for Fulton County Sheriff on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Patrick Labat (D)	100.0	435,304
		Charles Rambo (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 435,304
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Fulton County Sheriff

Incumbent Patrick Labat defeated Joyce Farmer, Kirt Beasley, and James Brown in the Democratic primary for Fulton County Sheriff on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Patrick Labat	54.2	46,781
	Submit photo	Joyce Farmer	22.8	19,708
		Kirt Beasley	11.6	10,009
		James Brown	11.4	9,838

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 86,336
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Brown in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

James Brown completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Brown's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am the only Law Enforcement CEO on the ballot. I am the best person for this role because I am the only candidate who holds a diversified law enforcement background, relevant business leadership experience, and an education commensurate with the duties of a Fulton County Sheriff.

I am the only candidate who’s worked all the major divisions of the sheriff’s office which means I understand the connectivity of the entire agency because the jail is not the sheriff’s only responsibility.

I am the only candidate with experience leading an organization through a crisis. The sheriff’s office is facing two: humanitarian and financial. Over the last 19 years, I successfully led my business through the Great Recession (2008), the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020), and the Film & TV Industry Strikes (2023).

I am the only challenger who holds a college degree and certifications commensurate with the duties of the sheriff. I am a Morehouse alumnus (‘84). As a lifelong learner, I pursued a master’s in administration, a doctorate in organizational leadership (abd), and I am ASIS certified. I am prepared to be your next sheriff.

In sum, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office runs like a small bustling city. The next sheriff, given the enormity of the responsibilities, must have CEO experience and mayor-like qualities. My diverse law enforcement experience, crisis management record, and educational track make me the best person for this role.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• My top three priorities as your next sheriff are outlined in my 3D Plan: deaths, dollars, and diversion. I will immediately address the humanitarian crisis in the jail by eliminating the preventable deaths which has led to strong public mistrust, numerous million dollar lawsuits, and severely dangerous working conditions for jail staff.
• My top three priorities as your next sheriff are outlined in my 3D Plan: deaths, dollars, and diversion. My second key message/priority is to use my fiscal management experience to reel in the out of control spending which has led to an increase in our tax rate and withdrawals from the county’s reserve funds.
• My top three priorities as your next sheriff are outlined in my 3D Plan: deaths, dollars, and diversion.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

My third key message/priority is to establish diversion programs directed at decreasing crime, redirecting our youth, treating mentally ill persons, and reducing the recidivism rate. My plan focuses on supplemental education programs for the youth, career preparedness for the detained, appropriate healthcare services for the mentally ill (to make sure they receive help & not just punishment), and extended services for the formerly incarcerated (which altogether reduces the recidivism rate).

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The sheriff is a constitutional officer who is authorized to make unilateral and autonomous decisions. The sheriff must have humanitarian attributes, a high level of integrity, and sound decision-making skills, and an executive-level education to make the BEST decisions.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, Character, Integrity, and a Service-centered Mindset

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am the only candidate with experience leading an organization through a crisis. The sheriff’s office is facing two: humanitarian and financial. Over the last 19 years, I successfully led my business through the Great Recession (2008), the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020), and the Film & TV Industry Strikes (2023).

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The most important core responsibility for the next sheriff must include a mayor-like CEO attributes. The best candidate must have an executive level education coupled with the resume of a C-Level executive. The sheriff is a CEO.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The sheriff must have mayor-like qualities and be able to run a small city. The Sheriff's Office runs like a small bustling city. The office operates 24/7. The sheriff is responsible for the jail; however, there are many other aspects. The sheriff must understand court security and law enforcement (warrants). I am the only candidate who has served a warrant. I am the only candidate with the most arrests and have done so without being named in a lawsuit or grievance. The sheriff must understand contract law, human resources, retention, line item budgeting, and a host of executive C-suite/C-level responsibilities. While the other candidates are running with a narrow view of becoming the "Chief Jailer," I am running with a full perspective of serving as your next sheriff.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Office holders for this position need CEO experience. The Sheriff of Fulton County is akin to a Fortune 500 CEO.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

I am the only Law Enforcement CEO on the ballot. I am the best person for this role because I am the only candidate who holds a diversified law enforcement background, relevant business leadership experience, and an education commensurate with the duties of a Fulton County Sheriff.

I am the only candidate who’s worked all the major divisions of the sheriff’s office which means I understand the connectivity of the entire agency because the jail is not the sheriff’s only responsibility.

I am the only candidate with experience leading an organization through a crisis. The sheriff’s office is facing two: humanitarian and financial. Over the last 19 years, I successfully led my business through the Great Recession (2008), the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020), and the Film & TV Industry Strikes (2023).

I am the only challenger WHO HOLDS A COLLEGE DEGREE and certifications commensurate with the duties of the sheriff. I am a Morehouse alumnus (‘84). As a lifelong learner, I pursued a master’s in administration, a doctorate in organizational leadership (abd), and I am ASIS certified. I am prepared to be your next sheriff.

In sum, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office runs like a small bustling city. The next sheriff, given the enormity of the responsibilities, must have CEO experience and mayor-like qualities. My diverse law enforcement experience, crisis management record, and educational track make me the best person for this role.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Sheriff Ted Jackson

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe in checks and balances. I believe that taxpayer funds should be spent with a layered signature practice to prevent dishonesty, fraud, and mismanagement. The current administration has, admittedly, mismanaged millions of dollars. The only remedy was to quietly terminate an employee. I have a masters in administration and understand budgeting. As a business owner, I have managed multi-million dollar budgets autonomously. The current administration mismanaged the Inmate Welfare Fund. In an unprecedented move, the County Commissioners removed the fund from his authority. The next sheriff must have the education (beyond a HS diploma) and integrity to manage the nearly $200mm budget.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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