COUNTY CANDIDATES PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL FORUM

  

Funding and staffing for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the juvenile treatment facility being built south of Brenham, and whether the county has a long range strategic plan were just some of the topics covered in KWHI’s Candidate’s Forum last (Wednesday) night at Brenham National Bank.

All eight local candidates running in the March 6th Republican Primary participated in the Forum, where they answered questions from the public. Several of the questions dealt with whether the Sheriff’s Department is underfunded, and the ongoing friction between Sheriff Otto Hanak and the Commissioners Court. John Durrenberger, who is challenging County Judge John Brieden for his position, said he believes the Sheriff’s Department is understaffed and needs more money from the county budget.

Brieden countered that since he first took office in 2011, the Sheriff’s Department budget has increased from $1.7 million to $2.4 million.

On the question of what can be done to ease the friction between the Commissioners Court and Sheriff Hanak, Precinct 2 County Commissioner Luther Hueske said it was just typical politics found in almost any county in Texas.

Candice Bullock, who is challenging Hueske for his position, said she would start easing the friction by listening and showing some respect to the Sheriff, who is not asking for things for himself, but for the officers who are protecting the public.

Durrenberger said he would try for open and honest communication, saying people can “disagree without being disagreeable”. He said he would not micromanage the different county departments as long as they stayed within their approved budgets. Brigden said “communication is a two way street”, implying that Sheriff Hanak was also responsible for friction.

Another question asked if the Judge and the Commissioners should have known more about he new juvenile treatment facility being built on Highway 36 just south of Brenham, and possibly done something to stop it. Brieden explained that the state constitution does not allow counties to zone or permit property, saying “it’s not a lack of communication…it’s a lack of authority”. Durrenberger said he needed to know more about it, but if the new facility is like the Five Oaks facility in Austin County, then he would be opposed to it. Hueske said people want their neighbor’s property regulated, but not their own. And Bullock said that while the Commissioners Court may not have the power to zone or permit the facility, they have the ability to reach out to state officials for help in fighting it.

A member of the audience mentioned that Waller County recently adopted a long range strategic plan, and said he had unsuccessfully tried to find Washington County’s plan on the internet. Brieden said he thought it was there, but would make sure it gets put on the county website. Durrenberger said he was glad to hear that the county has one, and hopes that it is a living, breathing document that is referred to on a regular basis.

County Court at Law Judge Eric Berg and challenger Robbie Gail Charette argued over semantics of whether Berg had actually been elected to his position.

Berg was appointed by the Commissioners Court in June of 2016 after Judge Matthew Reue resigned. In November of that year he was elected to the position after the Democrat Party did not place a candidate on the ballot.

Precinct 4 Constable candidates Greg Rolling and H.C. “Buddy” Riddle were asked what they thought was the most important issue facing law enforcement in Washington County. Both men said a shortage of manpower, specifically deputies to patrol the county, was the main concern. Rolling and Riddle also said, if elected, they would act as an additional set of eyes on the county roads.

Below are the opening statements from each candidate.