Bibb Sheriff David Davis cruises to second term

Bibb County Sheriff David Davis let out a cheer and danced about the room Tuesday night as results came in from the Lizella area, home to one of his challengers, Mike Smallwood.

“I’ve seen enough. It’s over,” one supporter said, as the retired officer decided to go home early.

Applause and shouts of joy erupted with each return, showing that Davis had soundly defeated challenges from two former deputies, including the 64-year-old Smallwood, who spent 40 years investigating crime.

Davis waited to declare victory until all but four precincts were in and he was garnering nearly 80 percent of the vote.

“I think we’ve won. I think we’ve won,” Davis shouted jubilantly before kissing his wife, Lili.

Davis jumped up on a chair and in a hoarse voice thanked the whole upstairs room at the Tic TocRoom, noting the diversity of the crowd.

“I’m so proud of this,” Davis told The Telegraph as the crowd began to thin. “It’s very impressive and it’s very much humbling to me that the voters of Bibb County think so much of what we’ve done in the sheriff’s office.”

Final tallies showed Davis with 11,763 votes, Smallwood with 2,596 and Tim Rivers with 1,091.

Earlier in the night, political newcomer Rivers, 33, had vowed to fight crime another day, even if the results did not go his way.

“I’m still going to try again the next four years,” Rivers said as his supporters dined on barbecued Boston butt and chicken that the candidate cooked up all day.

“It’s time for a change. The crime rate right now is ridiculous,” said Rivers, who hosted a watch party in a vacant store near Roses on Pio Nono.

Smallwood said he would go back into retirement after Tuesday’s election.

"I’ve learned it’s a lot different in being a candidate than it is being a helper on a campaign,” said Smallwood, who gathered with supporters at the Comfort Inn off Zebulon Road.

The 40-year veteran law enforcement officer believes his candidacy made a difference in how the sheriff’s office has been tackling burglaries.

“I brought some things to light. I understand they’ve had teams watching buildings at night when that wasn’t happening prior to me bringing it up,” he said.

Davis, who had campaigned for Sheriff Jerry Modena, said his supporters canvassed neighborhoods and helped push him to victory.

“People in the community worked the streets. We can all be proud.”

This story was originally published May 24, 2016 at 10:23 PM with the headline "Bibb Sheriff David Davis cruises to second term."