Bonner has big lead over Cobb in the sheriff’s race
In the Democratic primary for Shelby County sheriff, Chief Deputy Floyd Bonner appeared headed to victory Tuesday evening over Bennie Cobb, a retired Sheriff’s department captain who now runs a security company.
With 125 out of 166 precincts reporting, Bonner had 26,981 votes to Cobb’s 9,181, or nearly a 3 to 1 margin.
Bonner said he’s grateful for the support, but shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday he wasn’t quite ready to claim the primary victory.
“We worked hard over the past nine or 10 months to get to this point. It’s not over. We’re appreciative. This is just round one.” He said he knows he’ll face another opponent in August.
“I’m going to take a day off tomorrow, and we’ll be back at it Thursday — if the numbers don’t change.”
The winner of Tuesday’s election will advance to the Aug. 2 general election and face Dale Lane.
Lane, head of the Shelby County Office of Preparedness, is unopposed for the Republican nomination.
If Bonner wins the August general election, he will become the first African-American elected as Shelby County Sheriff. (In 1990, the county Board of Commissioners appointed W. Otis Higgs Jr. for a brief term as interim sheriff.)
Bonner started his career with the sheriff ’s office in the county jail and worked his way up, holding positions including undercover narcotics detective and assistant chief.
He was named chief deputy in 2016 and is running this year with the endorsement of Bill Oldham, the current sheriff. Oldham faces term limits and is leaving office.
Bonner, 58, has been far more visible than Oldham in recent months, serving as the public face of the department during several high-profile incidents, including an officer-involved shooting in January.
In a recent interview, Bonner said the SCSO faces issues including manpower, technology upgrades, including body cameras for all deputies, and the housing of juveniles in the detention facility the sheriff’s office oversees.
Bonner, seeking his first elected office, said he wants to make the sheriff’s office even more visible and responsive to the community.
Bonner’s campaign out-raised and out-spent Cobb’s. Bonner’s campaign spent about $76,000 last year and through late April, while Cobb’s campaign spent about $9,400 in the same period, according to campaign finance reports.
Bonner had $26,000 on hand as of late April, compared to about $200 for Cobb.
Lane, the Republican candidate for sheriff, is entering the general election season with about $47,700 on hand.
Reach reporter Daniel Connolly at 529-5296, daniel.connolly@commercial appeal.com, or on Twitter at @danielconnolly.