Floyd County Sheriff Race Keeps Local Focus

The race for Floyd County sheriff has seen over $50,000 flow into the coffers of local businesses, although spending by the two candidates is decidedly lopsided.

Robbie Whitfield, a veteran local law enforcement officer, is challenging incumbent sheriff Dave Roberson in the Republican primary, and Roberson has the financial edge. There is no Democratic candidate so the winner of the May 21 primary will appear alone on the November general election ballot.

The candidates filed campaign finance reports for the period between Feb. 1 and April 30 with the Floyd County Elections Department.

Whitfield reported $5,402 cash on hand compared to $71,306 for Roberson as early voting is continuing through May 17 at the Floyd County Election Center in Rome, Thornton Recreation Center in Armuchee and Anthony Recreation Center in Garden Lakes.

While there’s been a recent trend of outside involvement in political races, both Roberson and Whitfield have kept a local focus on their spending and the donations they accept.

Whitfield reported $15,230 in cash contributions this period, with nearly half coming from small donations of less than $100 each. Combined with previously reported contributions and a $5,000 personal loan, he’s taken in a total of $21,805. His top donors this reporting period were Nancy and Daniel Curdy of Rome, at $1,150 and $1,000 respectively.

He’s spent a total of $16,403 on his campaign; $10,195 of that in the past three months. Whitfield’s biggest listed expenses were a total of $4,228 for signs from Fast Printing and Signs on Broad Street and $4,950 for billboards around the county.

Roberson reported $28,574 in donations this period, which brought his total to $117,384. He spent $22,035 between Feb. 1 and April 30, making a total of $46,078 for this campaign.

Among his donors were retired Floyd County sheriff Tim Burkhalter, at $250, and Ronnie Kilgo, Roberson’s 2020 competitor for the seat. Kilgo gave $500 and another $500 from his company, Rome L/P Gas.

Other donors included local businesses and area bonding companies, along with private citizens.

Top money came from Courtesy Ford, $2,500; BR&K Family Limited Partnership, $2,500; Harry Pierce, $2,000; and Cowan Distributions of Rome, $1,942. Contributions of $1,000 each came from Al Barron, JEM Manufacturing, Bratcher Martin, LLP; Phillip Burkhalter Builders and RuthAnn Sargent.

Roberson’s spending went mainly to signage. The largest lump sum, $11,104, went to Lamar Advertising for billboards. Signs, graphic design services and fundraising event supplies were primarily purchased from vendors in Floyd County.

Whitfield spent 27 years working in Floyd County and is currently the Polk County Sheriff’s Office training officer. His campaign website is RobbieWhitfieldForSheriff.com.

Roberson, who worked his way up through the ranks at the FCSO, won the seat in 2020 with just under 64% of the vote. His campaign website is VoteRoberson.com.