Warner Robins voters to pick between Patrick, Toms in mayoral runoff race Tuesday

Warner Robins voters will choose between incumbent Randy Toms and challenger LaRhonda Patrick in Tuesday’s mayoral runoff election.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In the Nov. 4 general election, Toms received 3,290 votes (45.5%), followed closely by Patrick (3,197 votes, or 44.2%). Stephen Baughier came in third with 746 votes.

Toms, a Warner Robins native, retired firefighter and U.S. Air Force veteran, is running for his third term. He noted the city’s parks and recreation improvements under his term, as well as the addition of police and firefighter positions. He said he wants to improve public safety initiatives he’s put in place, if re-elected, and will continue his efforts to redevelop downtown Warner Robins.

“I’ve worked for this city for 35 years; it’s what I know, what I do,” Toms said election night. “If we’re able to win, we’re going to keep moving forward like we’ve been doing. Things are going well, and I hope the people will give me a chance to continue moving forward with the progress we’re making.”

LaRhonda Patrick is a Warner Robins native and an attorney who currently works as the city attorney for Fort Valley. She specializes in municipal, corporate and government procurement law. If elected, Patrick said she wants to improve innovation, industry, and involvement in the city.

Patrick would be the first Black person and woman to be elected mayor of Warner Robins (Henrietta McIntyre served as acting mayor in 1993-94).

“I think I’ve shown voters I’m a true nonpartisan candidate,” she said. “I put people over power. I stand for making sure that people are on the agenda, and I’m going to rally for what’s best for the city.”

Toms called a press conference Monday afternoon to discuss the IRS’ tax lien against the city. The lien, initially almost $800,000 in penalties from filing issues dating back to 2015, became public after the general election in November. Half of the lien has been released back to the city by the IRS after Warner Robins successfully challenged the claim.

“There are obviously those who would love nothing more than to make this an issue which derails my continued service to this city, but don’t be confused. Let me be clear… the office of the mayor does not keep the books for the City of Warner Robins,” said Toms at an earlier press conference.