FOLKSTON, Ga. — With Georgia's election results in Thursday night, both Charlton and Pierce Counties will keep their sheriffs.
Charlton County Sheriff Robert Phillips received 55 percent of the vote and Pierce County Sheriff Ramsey Bennett received nearly 75 percent of the vote.
Phillips said he plans to double down on the county’s drug problem, something voters told First Coast News drove their vote for sheriff.
Phillips's supporters gathered at a local BBQ joint as he talked to First Coast News about his win.
"I'm tired but happy," Phillips said. "We've been a long time with this election and a lot of hard work, a lot of great people standing by me and supporting me and I appreciate it. And it's been a little overwhelming to win it again and I think the next four years will be even better.
Phillips beat retired sheriff of more than 30 years Dobie Conner and Charlton County Superintendent of Roads and former County Commissioner Ronnie Pollock.
Voters told First Coast News the county’s drug problem is the biggest issue they care about the sheriff tackling and Phillips said he’s on it.
“One of the things we’re gonna jump on right away is the drug problem in the community," he said. "Put some investigators out there and get some folks working on the drugs to do something with them, eradicate the drugs.”
He said he’s ready to continue his 46 years in law enforcement.
"Thank you to the voters for having trust in me," Phillips said. "I assure them that I won't let them down and we'll work extra hard this this term to get some things done and to complete the tasks that we started."
In Pierce County, current Sheriff Ramsey Bennett won with close to 75 percent of the vote, beating H. Grady Wilson. First Coast News was unable to reach Bennett for comment Thursday.