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Investiture - Octavia Johnson, Sheriff
Noon, Monday, December 19, 2005
Call to Order Introduction of Judges Presentation of Colors: Color Guard Pledge of Allegiance Solo: Dana Pannell Invocation: Rev. Charles Calloway Scripture: Elder LaVerne Norman Oath of Office: Judge Clifford Weckstein Response: Octavia Johnson Benediction: Elder LaVerne Norman Reception to Follow in Atrium
I give thanks to my lord and savior Jesus Christ, Lord of my campaign.
Thank you Roanoke City for electing me Sheriff of Roanoke City. Thank you for electing me the first female sheriff of Roanoke City. I want to thank everyone who entrusted me with their vote. Thank you! Thank you, thank you!
As Sheriff of Roanoke City I will seek to bring my platform to fruition. I will ensure safety, restore professionalism and provide innovative leadership.
I want to give special thanks to the Republican Committee for all their support. When I accepted the Republican nomination for the office of sheriff of Roanoke City I promised to seek this office with integrity, determination and resilience. I committed myself to this campaign. I assembled a qualified staff who worked diligently to help me win this election.
I could not do this alone, it took a team just as it will take a team to run the sheriff's office. I had a great staff that met with me on Thursday evenings. This is the same team I had in 2001 when we received 40 per cent of the vote. In 2005 we brought it home!
I want them to come and stand with me.
Campaign manager - Patricia Johnson,
Senior Volunteer - David Nixon,
Treasurer - Linda Siler,
Foot Soldier Sgt. - Donald Muse
my biggest supporter and my husband Mark Neese, who was faithful through the first campaign and the four years that followed. Through the good and the bad I could not have done this without his complete and total support. Thank you Mark, I love you.
I want to thank Gordon Hancock, Chairman of the Republlican Committee, Eleanor Horner, president of Roanoke Republican Women Club.
Thank everyone for working the polls. Most of all I thank my family for sticking with me, being there when I needed them. I want to thank family coordinator for my campaign-Audrey Johnson.
I want to thank so many who worked Dana Pannell, Robert Barber, Dianne Smith, political consultant and speech writer Martin Brown and his wife Nita, Brian Gottstein, Ken Sarpan.
I want to thank all the contributors to my campaign. A special thanks to Conley and Helen Kyle of Galax, VA who gave a hometown fundraiser in support of my campaign. Thank you to everyone who gave, signs cost money.
Thank you for electing me sheriff of Roanoke City. I give all honor and glory to God. May God bless you, your family and our star city.
As the polls close the Octavia Johnson for Sheriff team, along with family and friends, cram into one room at the Wyndham Hotel. They listen acutely to the radio, set on WFIR and glance at the television as it moves from station to station in search of information on the Roanoke City sheriff's race.
Information trickles in and it does not look good. Everyone in the room joins hands and Pastor Sue Greene begins to pray. Faith restored, people begin to tell stories about their day at the polls in between precinct reports. Octavia's nieces and cousins with children cannot stay, they have long drives and the kids have school. Other poll workers arrive and tell their stories.
Octavia and Patricia work on her speech. Everyone has a change of clothes for the celebration but no one gets dressed. WFIR reports that Octavia is leading the race with four precincts still out. The speech is finished but the printer isn't working.
The precincts are named, checking the results from 2001 we find that Octavia won the largest and the smallest of the four. You can hear people breathing in the room, Octavia's husband Mark calls out from the doorway, All you have to do is hold your ground and it's yours. A cheer rolls through the room like a bowling ball knocking down pins one at a time.
The printer starts and one word in bold letters appears on the page, VICTORY. Octavia takes each sheet and practices reading from the pages. WFIR announces that George McMillan has conceded. Everyone gasps, there are still precincts to report…then we hear it, Octavia Johnson has won! The room erupts in screams; Octavia shouts, I won? I won!! She crosses the room and Mark lifts her into the air in a bear hug. People begin thanking and praising God. Over the television we hear that they're waiting for Octavia in the ballroom downstairs at the Republican celebration. Octavia says she has to go and she and Mark rush out.
Everyone realizes they have not changed clothes and decide to go as they are. Both Octavia's mother and sister are in wheelchairs. The process of transferring from bed to chair and maneuvering through the tight room eats away at time. On the radio they hear Octavia being greeted by a throng of people shouting, sheriff! Sheriff! Sheriff!
David Nixon arrives at the door and says that Octavia will not give her speech till her mother gets there. They begin the long trek to the ballroom; they arrive at the steps and there is no ramp but a lift that can take one wheel chair at a time. Figuring out how it works chews up more time. Reporters press Octavia to go on but she refuses. When Mrs. Johnson finally enters the room they push her to the front amid congratulatory greetings.
Octavia Johnson delivers her victory speech, punctuated by applause, shouts and flashing cameras. Television interns get their big-breaks as they have been sent to cover Octavia Johnson the unexpected victor.
 Octavia with Lt. Governor of Maryland, Michael Steele and Delegate William Fralin |
Virginia has three African American Republican candidates for Sheriff on the ballot across the State. William (Bill) Cleveland in Alexandria, Octavia Johnson in Roanoke City and Gabe Morgan in Newport News.
The Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman and State Party Chair Kate Griffin organized the African American Sheriff's Endorsement Tour to lend support to these three candidates. Republican Party leaders joined the candidates on Monday, October 3, in Roanoke City, Newport News, and Alexandria, Virginia.
 Octavia introducing Lt. Governor Steele at the Sheriff's Tour |
The first stop was at 9:00AM in downtown Roanoke on the steps of the Commonwealth Building on Church Ave. Lt. Governor of Maryland, Michael Steele endorsed local Sheriff candidate Octavia Johnson a law-enforcement professional. In January 2004 she retired from the Roanoke City Sheriff's Office with 25 years of service. Octavia joined the Republican Party when they sought her as thier candidate for Sheriff in 2001.
Michael Steele earned a place in history when he became the first African American elected to statewide office, and the first-ever Republican Lieutenant Governor in Maryland, While endorsing Octavia Johnson, Lt Governor Steele said, "We need strong law enforcement leadership in Virginia like Octavia Johnson for Sheriff here in Roanoke City that Virginia will be a safer place to call home. As a public servant for many years Octavia undrstands the many levels of law enforcement and has a great understanding of what the community needs and what the community has faced which makes her prepared for leadership as Sheriff of Roanoke City. I urge all Virginians, as you to the polls, to not just look at party, but to look at the person. "
 Gabe Morgan |
 Bill Cleveland |
As soon as the conference was over Michael Steele was on his way to Newport News to meet sheriff candidate Gabe Morgan and Bob McDonnell. Gabe Morgan is currently the Special Agent-in-Charge, VA Department of Motor Vehicles, Law Enforcement Services. Gabriel is the First Vice-Chair of the Newport News Republican City Committee and he is an elected member of the Republican State Central Committee.
Michael Steele then flew to Alexandria and met with Ken Mehlman and Republican sheriff candidate Bill Cleveland. Bill is a law-enforcement professional and has been a community activist and leader in Alexandria for more than three decades. Having retired from the U.S. Capitol Police in September after 30 years on the force. Cleveland seeks to be the next Sheriff of Alexandria.
In Response to Sexual Misconduct Charges Against Sheriff George McMillan
Octavia Johnson's Remarks:
Good afternoon and thank you for coming.
Earlier this week, you heard the current sheriff, George M. McMillan, respond to allegations of sexual misconduct in the workplace by four former female employees. You also heard him attempt to shift the blame to my campaign for these allegations coming to light.
Let me set the record absolutely straight: Neither I, nor my campaign staff or volunteers, had anything to do with these allegations or the resulting lawsuit from these four women. The responsibility lies solely with George McMillan and the four separate plaintiffs.
I do not even know, nor have I ever met, the three women who recently filed affidavits. Neither does my campaign staff.
And I only know Ms. King – the woman who initially filed the lawsuit – because we both worked at the Sheriff's Office. However, we worked different shifts and we had no relationship outside of the workplace. I found out about Ms. King's lawsuit back in August only after it was filed with the court. In addition, I only found out about the three new women who came forward when you, members of the press, contacted my campaign to alert us that they had filed affidavits and to get our comments on the situation.
Let me repeat again: Neither I, nor my campaign staff or volunteers, had anything to do with these allegations or the resulting lawsuit against George McMillan. What these women have done, they have done on their own.
With that said, I am asking George M. McMillan to immediately cease and desist from making further false and unsubstantiated accusations about my campaign.
Good afternoon. I am David Nixon, a local attorney and senior campaign volunteer for Octavia Johnson.
As a senior volunteer who has been involved with this campaign from the beginning, I can tell you unequivocally that neither Mrs. Johnson nor I, nor any other campaign staffer or volunteer, has had anything to do with the recent allegations of sexual misconduct or the lawsuit against Sheriff George McMillan.
Until these three recent affidavits were made public, I had never heard of these ladies. In addition, as I stated the other day, I only became aware that Ms. King was filing a lawsuit when everyone else did – on the day it was filed with the court.
George McMillan, as a public official sworn to uphold the law, and an officer of the court, needs to stop using this campaign as an excuse to try to explain away the lawsuit and allegations against him. He is diminishing very serious charges by falsely suggesting that they are politically motivated, and he needs to personally own up to whatever responsibility he bears in this matter.
If these allegations were politically motivated, it seems to me that these women would have just gone to the press with their stories, rather than going to the tremendous expense and trouble of hiring an attorney, filling out sworn affidavits, and filing a federal lawsuit. As far as I know from the reporters I've talked to, none of these women have sought out the press. It was the members of the press who found the court filings and brought them to the public's attention.
Mr. McMillan is alleging these four women who have come forward are committing perjury – a felony. That kind of accusation should not be thrown around lightly, especially by a sheriff.
As an attorney, I have to ask myself why he would think for a second that four women would come forward to lie about these allegations,…risking federal prison sentences for committing perjury,…just to help someone they don't even know…win a local sheriff's election.
That just defies common sense. If I were in his shoes, I would take these allegations more seriously.
Regardless of guilt or innocence, this is a sad situation for all involved – for Sheriff McMillan, his accusers, and the City of Roanoke.
Ultimately, Octavia Johnson and her supporters hope the situation will be resolved quickly, and that the truth will prevail in court – on whichever side the truth resides.
As a final statement, I would like to tell you that we're focusing on some exciting things coming up in our campaign. I look forward to seeing all of you at our next event – October 3rd at 9:00 a.m. at Lee Plaza.
Maryland's lieutenant governor, Michael Steele, will be touring Virginia to support our state's three black Republican sheriff candidates. Mr. Steele is the first black American elected to statewide office in Maryland, and he is Maryland's first-ever Republican lieutenant governor. We're also anticipating that Ken Mehlman, the national chairman of the Republican Party, will be joining him that day in Roanoke.
Thank you for coming today.
Octavia Johnson, Republican Candidate for Roanoke City Sheriff held a PRESS CONFERENCE on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at 4:15pm on the steps of the Roanoke City Courthouse at 315 W. Church Ave. to kick off her campaign to provide:
Octavia delivered the following speech:
“The time is now!
The time is now Roanoke!
The time is now to elect a new sheriff for the city of Roanoke.
Hi, my name is Octavia Johnson and I’m asking you personally to vote for me on November 8th to be the next sheriff for the city of Roanoke
The time is now:
To provide greater innovative leadership in our Sheriff’s Office.
The time is now:
To ensure safety and security, for the public, the inmates, and the hard working professionals who protect us every day.
The time is now:
To restore and build professionalism within our Sheriff’s Office.
The time is now Roanoke to elect a new sheriff in town.
It’s great to see many friends here, thank you for coming and thank you for your gracious and generous support. For those that I am meeting for the first time let me introduce myself:
I’m native of Elk Creek in Grayson County, and I’ve the called the Roanoke Valley home for the past 29 years.
I’m the proud daughter of George and Alice Johnson, number five among seven blessed children.
My dad worked in the cotton mill and later at a factory that produced screws. My mother supported my dad and the family by cleaning houses and selling her homemade baked goods.
Because of my love for this city, and the people in it, I am personally committed to the success of Roanoke.
You need to know that this is a position of public service where I’ve always wanted serve. I remember back in the 60’s as a teenager, sitting in front of our black and white TV set and looking at the Johnny Carson show. At that time, there was no such thing as females in law enforcement…and on this night, Johnny’s guest was one of the first female sheriffs in the country.
I was completely intrigued, and taken by this woman. She was tall, like myself, but she was also tall in stature, tall in the way she carried herself, in her character and demeanor. She was tough, yet feminine. You could see that she didn’t mess around. She was one of my first role models and I’m grateful to her. She lit a spark of interest in me to pursue law enforcement as a career, and dream of the day when I could put on the uniform of Sheriff of Roanoke.
Who is Octavia Johnson, Roanoke’s future Sheriff? I’m a down-home, family first, law and order, common-sense, community-oriented Republican: walking in the footsteps of our beloved former Mayor of Roanoke, Noel Taylor, our wonderful Virginia Governor and Senator, George Allen, and our former National Security Advisor and now Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.
I’m a law enforcement professional. I’ve served beside the excellent professionals in the Roanoke Sheriff’s Office for the past 25 years. I’ve been involved, overseen, and personally handled the intake of hundreds of Roanoke residents into the city jail on Campbell Ave. adjacent to the Courthouse. I’ve been trained in police science, corrections, and law enforcement.
I’ve assisted men, women and children…… sometimes from the same family…. in walking the painful journey through Roanoke’s courts, jail and criminal justice system. It’s my belief that the Roanoke jail should not have a revolving door to generations of families. The cycles of incarceration can be broken.
Several years ago, while serving as the Deputy responsible for I ran into and a female inmate, who through her trustworthiness earned the distinction of inmate trustee. On this particular day, this trustee began to complain that she no longer wanted to be a trustee but in fact wanted to return to the general population. I asked her why and she said it’s because one of the other prison employees disrespected her.
I had to explain to her that the only way she was going to achieve anything once she got out:
1. the recognition that she needed to start where she was
2. accept responsibility for her actions, and then pursue excellence
3. don’t’ be distracted by others actions or words.
After my little discussion with this inmate, I immediately went on my three day rotation from work… we worked 4 days on 3 days off. When I came back, that same inmate was still a trustee. She thanked me and mentioned that she did hear what I said and was now accepting responsibility for making something of herself once she got out.
When I become sheriff in November, these are the values that I will instill in the Sheriff’s Office.
- Leadership through character and integrity and innovation
- Professionalism of the highest order.
- Community Safety and Security.
Fellow citizens of Roanoke…its 2005…the time is now.
The time is now for us to provide greater leadership in our Sheriff’s Office.
As your sheriff I will lead by example. I will lead the Sheriff’s department by my character and not just my position. I will lead through my integrity, and not just my ability to punish you if you don’t do as I say. And, I will lead through innovation.
Through Character and Integrity, we must restore morale.
Through greater innovation, we must address the pressing problems in our jail.
Through greater collaboration, we must expand our partnerships with other law enforcement officials like Police Chief Gaskins, and the Dept. of Corrections.
The time is now for a new Sheriff in Town.
We must restore morale:
The Sheriff’s Office is currently suffering from a silent yet very dangerous infection of low morale. If not cured this infection can spread throughout the department, and could create unhealthy work environments that lead to greater risk, and greater danger.
You may not know this but, there is currently a quiet slow and steady exodus of first rate law enforcement professionals leaving the Roanoke Sheriffs office and joining the sheriff’s offices of other jurisdictions…not for more money…in fact they are paid less in these other locales. Quality deputies are leaving because of a lack of strong, fair, innovative leadership. They are leaving for better work environments.
When you elect me to be Sheriff in November, one of the first things I am committed to doing is reversing this trend by restoring dignity, professionalism, and leadership, to the Roanoke Sheriff’s department.
The time is now for a new Sheriff in Town!
We must provide greater innovations in our jails. Innovations that will make our jails safer, for the inmates, safer for the deputies, and ultimately safer for you….the citizens of Roanoke. We must reduce the number of assaults among inmates, on deputies, and attempted escapes. These problems require strong and innovative leadership. I’ve got a vision, I’ve got the strength, and I’ve got the skills and experience to address these problems within our sheriffs office.
The time is now for visionary leadership.
We are not the police department, but we can partner with them in addressing crime in Roanoke.
The Sheriffs office can play a small yet very significant part reducing recidivism by providing greater and more effective counseling and services to inmates. This requires leadership in the office of the Sheriff.
It’s time for a fresh start with greater innovative leadership.
Leadership is identifying the problems, creating a plan to address them, and marshalling the resources to solve them. I am confident that when you elect me as your sheriff in November, I will provide the kind of leadership that Roanoke needs and deserves.
Its time for a new beginning in our sheriff’s office, the time is now for a new sheriff in town with a vision, and dedication, and skill to implement that vision.
The time is now to increase safety and security.
As the next sheriff of Roanoke I will increase and ensure the safety and security, for the public, the inmates and the hard working professionals who protect us every day in our jails and court system.
The time is now for Greater Professionalism in our Sheriffs Office.
I’ve got dear friends that I’ve worked with for many years who have devoted their careers to being first-rate professionals within the Sheriff’s office. They deserve better leadership. They deserve and you deserve a Sheriff that will instill, and also model professionalism.
When you elect me to be the fifth woman to currently hold the office of Sheriff in Virginia, you can be confident that your vote will be a vote for greater professionalism, and more effective training.
Lastly, Roanoke let me encourage you to vote for Octavia Johnson for Sheriff. Vote for the real deal and not the counterfeit.
Four years ago, I served as a deputy in the Sheriff’s Office and took the very unpopular and potentially career ending chance of running against my boss.
During our election four years ago, my opponent stated that I would receive less than 10% of the vote.
Four years ago there were people in Roanoke who didn’t want to “throw-away” their vote by voting for this political novice and upstart.
We’ll four years ago, on election-day; we shocked everyone and received 40% of the vote.
Its four years later and you, the tax payers and citizens of Roanoke have a choice this year.
You don’t have to worry about throwing your vote away…you can join the thousands of voters who partnered with our campaign, and help us bring new leadership to the Office of Sheriff of the city of Roanoke.
For over 20 years Sheriff Alvin Hudson built the Sheriff’s department into a model for the rest of the state.
His integrity was unmatched. His character was beyond question. He was a man who did what he said, and said what he did.
My opponent tried to fill the large shoes of Sheriff of Hudson and has failed. For eight long years, he has tried unsuccessfully to fill THE long shadow of Sheriff’s Hudson’s reputation, only to fall short within the department, within the Roanoke community, and across Virginia.
The time for change is now Roanoke.
The time is now to return the Roanoke Sheriffs department to the levels of integrity, excellence, professionalism that made it respected across the state prior to my opponent’s stewardship.
The time is now to restore the department to the levels of character and integrity of Sheriff Hudson, while providing the department with the 21st century innovations in leadership that our city needs and demands.
The time is now! It is time to elect a new sheriff for the city of Roanoke.
Please know that when you vote for Octavia Johnson on November 8th, you will be voting for greater professionalism, greater safety and greater leadership.
I would like to take a moment to thank you in advance for placing your trust and confidence in me. I am humbled by your support, encouraged by your commitment, and strengthened by your dedication to bring professionalism, safety and leadership to the office of Sheriff of Roanoke.
May God richly bless you, your family, and our Star City.