Why did you decide to seek this office?

I began my law enforcement career here in Wise County in 1992. Beginning in the communications division, I worked my way through the department and reached my goal of sheriff. Being sheriff is not only my goal; it is my life.

As my career advanced, I decided to run for sheriff because I care about Wise County, and I want Wise County to be the best it can be-not only in the law enforcement arena but best in every way. Being brought up in a very professional department, I want to continue to provide effective proactive law enforcement through innovative ideas from our staff and citizens.

Please identify a major issue dealing with the position you are seeking and what are your solutions or views about that issue. Please be as specific as possible.

Wise County has experienced a massive growth in the past five years. As the county grows, it is imperative that the Sheriff's Office grows, as well. We all know that when there are more people, there will be more crime. This is especially true with the problem of illegal drugs.

Educating our youth is one of the most proactive approaches to this problem. Reaching out to our elementary level children is imperative. When they grow into young men and women, they should know what the effects of drugs will have on them and the vicious circle drugs cause within our community.

Drugs are a very important issue in our community, and the nation. When I took office in 2004, we completed a yearlong undercover drug investigation, resulting in the arrest of 52 drug suspects. These men and women were selling drugs to our undercover deputies and our children. .Through the effective efforts of our narcotics officers, Texas Department of Public Safety Narcotics Division, and the Wise County District Attorney's Office, over 70% of those arrested were convicted. This was a great boost to our fight against the drug problem.


Wise County not only has a drug issue, there are other issues that go along with it. Thefts, burglaries and other crimes are a part of this vicious circle of crime.

Being proactive is the key in the fight against all crime. All of you in Wise County are familiar with our popular WISE EYES watch programs. We have seen an incredible increase in the participants of WISE EYES and have had many successful cases cleared as a direct result of the assistance of our citizens. We, as taxpayers, cannot afford a deputy on every street corner and with the WISE EYES program, a criminal does not know whom to watch for. Do they watch for the deputies or the citizens? WISE EYES allows us to work as one!

What experience qualifies you to serve in the position you seek?

As a graduate of the University of North Texas, I received my bachelor's degree in criminal justice while working fulltime here at the Wise County Sheriff's Office. As my career advanced, I obtained a master peace officer certification, as well as several other state licenses including a peace officer instructor's license.

In 1999, I graduated from the FBI National Academy for Law Enforcement Management; thus receiving advanced training from around the world relating to law enforcement. My on-the-job experience is another invaluable educational tool that is an enormous benefit. Sixteen years experience right here in Wise County places me in a position that allows us to know, not only the "ins and outs" of the department, but the "ins and outs" of the community.

If elected, what will be your most important goal?

We set many goals here at the Wise County Sheriff's Office. The goals we set are in a variety of areas, such as the housing of out of county inmates in our jail, aggressive equipment enhancements in the communications division (such as Reverse 911), and many others. I am very pleased with the progress of our department in the past several years.

We have grown with the county. We have expanded our training, increased our traffic enforcement and added a drug detection dog. We take a hard stand on sex offenders notification. Many other goals that were set in 2004 have been reached.

As we have been doing very effectively with the citizens of Wise County, we will push harder in a proactive approach against crime. We have recently moved our patrol division to a ten hour shift, which allows us to place more deputies in areas of high crime. The same deputies work their areas on a routine basis, which allows us to respond to the citizens on a personal level.

Our budget, set by the Commissioner's Court, allows us to continue to develop innovative ways to protect our citizens and save our taxpayers money. Programs such as the Halloween sex offender notification publication and the warrant publication are examples of this. The warrant publication clears active warrants without expending salaries of deputies serving those warrants, allowing them to continue on proactive patrol.

Each employee here at the Sheriff's Office has ideas that we are continually considering. The continuing relationship that our employees have with the citizens of Wise County is the biggest goal that we have accomplished and we will work harder in the next four years to get more citizens working along with us. In law enforcement, if you're not thinking ahead, your not benefiting your citizens to the fullest. It pays to be proactive and our community partnerships are essential to serve the needs of the county.

We appreciate the citizens of Wise County for working with us for the past 16 years and we look forward to many years to come. Please vote on March 4, 2008. I need and appreciate your vote.