John Q. Williams (Clarke County Sheriff, Georgia, candidate 2024)

John Q. Williams

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Democratic Party

Candidate, Clarke County Sheriff

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 21, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Iowa State University, 2014

Personal

Birthplace

Gary, Ind.

Religion

Baptist

Profession

Law enforcement

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

John Q. Williams (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Clarke County Sheriff in Georgia. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.

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

Biography

John Q. Williams provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on May 1, 2024:

• Birth date: May 30, 1975
• Birth place: Gary, Indiana
• High school: Gary West Side
• Bachelor's: Iowa State University, 2014
• Gender: Male
• Religion: Baptist
• Profession: Law Enforcement
• Incumbent officeholder: Yes
• Campaign slogan: A Sheriff For The People
• Campaign website
• Campaign endorsements
• Campaign Facebook
• Campaign Twitter
• Campaign YouTube video

Elections

General election

General election for Clarke County Sheriff

Incumbent John Q. Williams ran in the general election for Clarke County Sheriff on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	John Q. Williams (D)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Clarke County Sheriff

Incumbent John Q. Williams and Tommy Dorsey ran in the Democratic primary for Clarke County Sheriff on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	John Q. Williams
	Submit photo	Tommy Dorsey

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= 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.

Endorsements

To view Williams's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Williams in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

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

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

John Q has a public safety career that extends back 25 years. Since moving to Athens in the 90s, he has been dedicated to serving the community in many roles, including as a substitute school teacher, dispatcher, and law enforcement officer. He was sworn into the seat of Sheriff of Clarke County in 2021 and looks forward to serving the community in that capacity for years to come. John graduated from West Side Leadership Academy under the Gifted and Talented program in Gary, Indiana. Merely 3 days after graduating high school, he went on to participate in the George Washington Carver Leadership/Summer Enrichment Program at Iowa State University, a program designed to give an early start to rising leaders entering college. He took a break from college to work on building a better foundation for his growing family, which led him to Athens in 1997. He later earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Iowa State while working full-time. He has also attained a multitude of training certifications in the field of law enforcement and training education.

John’s first law enforcement job began in 1998 when he was hired as a dispatcher for the University of Georgia Police Department. He worked for four years as a dispatcher on campus, then worked in a similar position for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Following that, he returned to Clarke County in 2005, where he has lived ever since.

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?

• Increase the number of inmate programs in the jail designed to prevent recidivism

  Workforce skill development Spiritual development Educational opportunities

  Increase partnerships within the community in order to create high-quality work opportunities for well-adjusted inmates.
• Commit to radical transparency Any policy changes affecting the public will be announced in a forthright manner. Noteworthy incidents will be reported to the public as quickly as possible, along with any investigative findings. Admit to mistakes and wrongdoings!
• Continue to implement changes in policy that will help department staff feel more valued and respected. A few include: Create opportunities for cross-training and job advancement for civilian staff Rotate duties so that new deputies aren’t stuck doing the most difficult and grueling work

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Gang and gun violence are a rising problem in our community. Safety in our schools is threatened on a daily basis. There are some who feel that because the Sheriff has not directly addressed these issues in the past, I should not be involved now. It’s important to uphold our promise to protect and serve everyone in Athens-Clarke County, regardless of color, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, or citizenship status. As Sheriff, I will not stand by and wait for others to address these major issues in our community.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

All the police chiefs and sheriffs that I have met and worked for. I have taken from many of them and incorporated those things into my overall style of leading and teaching.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

That's a hard question. I would have to say I've drawn from so many books and documentaries, but the best teacher has been experience and watching other leaders.

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

You have to be honest, and transparent in that honesty. We all make mistakes, but knowing how to learn and grow from those mistakes is key to a better life.

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

I never give up. I also never feel others are beneath me or inferior. We all make decision and it is never good to judge others.

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

To protect and serve is the easy answer. The deep dive is much more intense. You have to have a working knowledge of the law and related case laws. You really need to have a passion for helping people and doing so without bias. You have to be accessable to the people in your community.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I think in any leadership role you should leave it in a better place than it was when you attained the position. If someone new comes in and everything falls apart, that failure to build for the future becomes part of your legacy.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

There are probably a few others, but I vividly remember watching the space shuttle launch and explode. I was about 10 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a paperboy some time in my early teens. It did not last long. I had to get up and out the door when it was still dark. I didn't last more than a few months because I got tired of getting chased by dogs. I also was not very good at bill collecting.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Anything by Walter Mosley, especially the Easy Rawlins mysteries. As an author he speaks to me and I am always drawn into the world he describes. The movie adaptation of Devil in A Blue Dress I think brought all the characters to life.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

When I was a kid, I really thought I would grow up to be like Robert Mccall, the Equalizer. It just seemed so cool how he helped people and in turn they helped other people.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

The welcome song at my church. Sometimes I just find myself humming and clapping my hands randomly.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Probably being a dad. I didn't have the greatest example growing up and it took me a long time how to interact with my sons. It was difficult with my work schedule in law enforcement and being tired from work, and missing school events. I did okay and they're grown now and have not disowned me.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Georgia Conservation Voters

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Our county budget is pretty much available at a moments notice in city hall as well as online.

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