Sheriff candidate Ronnie Strength (left), chatting with Victor Jefferson and his daughter Vivica, 1, was guest of honor at Tuesday's fish fry. CHRIS THELEN/STAFF

Former mayor backs Strength for sheriff

Web posted May 10, 2000

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By Clarissa J. Walker
Staff Writer

It was an endorsement sealed with several pounds of fried catfish and freshwater bream.

Former Augusta Mayor Ed McIntyre held a fish fry Tuesday at Julian Smith Casino in honor of sheriff's candidate Ronnie Strength. Mr. Strength stood in front of the Lake Olmstead activity hall shaking hands and greeting several of the expected 500-plus attendees.

Mr. McIntyre -- a prominent black leader in Augusta -- said he hopes the black community follows his lead and supports Mr. Strength.

``I think that Ronnie Strength has a fair sensitivity,'' Mr. McIntyre said. ``And also there were times when 20, 30, 40 years ago if any African-American was running, I would be right there supporting them. I think that we have reached a point in life -- and I hope that I am setting an example that others will follow -- we really need to look at the candidate's background and what he can do for the community.''

Mr. Strength is on unpaid leave from his job as a Richmond County sheriff's chief deputy while campaigning for election. He will have to deal with wounds that have not healed from past violence involving deputies that prompted outcries from members of the black community in recent years, some say.

In 1998, Alfaigo Terrell Davis, 28, was fatally shot by deputies who said the Apple Valley resident was going to plow into them with his car. The two deputies were vindicated of charges in a case that eventually was examined by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and the U.S. Justice Department.

``He has the capability to heal those wounds,'' Mr. McIntyre said of Mr. Strength. ``You can't blame Ronnie Strength for something that happened under somebody else's watch.''

Rallying the support of the black community during his campaign was never a concern, said Mr. Strength, who has been with the department for 24 years.

``The black community has been good to me over the years,'' he said.

``These things happen. We hate it,'' he said of the Davis case. ``If there are problems, we want to do everything we can to mend these problems. We've got to work together. It can be done. There were some folks upset, but as a whole we got a lot of support from the black community.''

Reach Clarissa J. Walker at (706) 828-3851.