SHERIFF’S OFFICES ACROSS BRAZOS VALLEY TO SEE SHAKEUP AFTER ELECTIONS

  

The leadership of law enforcement across the region could soon see a big changeup with the upcoming primary elections.

The Sheriff’s Offices in Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Fayette, Grimes, Lee, and Waller Counties all have contested races on the Republican ballot in the March primaries, set for March 3rd.  A few of those races, Brazos and Waller Counties, will extend into November against a Democratic competitor.

In Austin County, current Sheriff Jack Brandes, who first took office in January 2013, will face challenger Ronnie Griffin on the Republican ballot. Griffin has worked for the Sealy and Wallis police departments, and has been elected to two terms as Precinct Three Constable in Austin County.

In Brazos County, three candidates are vying for the position held by outgoing Sheriff Chris Kirk, who is stepping down after six four-year terms as Sheriff. Republicans Wayne Dicky, current Brazos County Jail Administrator, and Jason James, a Bryan Police Sergeant, will duke it out in Tuesday’s primary, the winner of which will face Democratic candidate and current Brazos County Jailor Patrick Logan.

Two Republican candidates will seek the position of Burleson County Sheriff, those being Burleson County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Gene Hermes and Brazos County Sheriff’s School Resource Officer Jayson Lyday.  The position was formerly held by Thomas Norsworthy before his resignation in October.  Days later, former Sheriff Dale Stroud was named as the interim Sheriff.

In Fayette County, Cody George will face incumbent Keith Korenek on the Republican ballot. Korenek is seeking his fifth term after taking office in January 2005.  George currently works as a police officer in Flatonia, and began his career in public service as a firefighter at the age of 16.

Grimes County’s Sheriff race will pit longtime Sheriff Don Sowell against challenger Travis Higginbotham on the Republican ballot. Sowell is seeking his sixth term in office after being appointed in 1998 and elected in 2000, while Higginbotham worked at the Sheriff’s Office beginning in 1994, being promoted to Chief Investigator by Sowell in 1998.  He later went on to work as an investigator in the Grimes County District Attorney's Office.

Lee County will see three candidates fight for the position of Sheriff, currently held by Rodney Meyer, who is not seeking re-election after taking office in January 2009. Lee County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy James Crockett, Fayette County Sheriff’s Detective Garrett Durrenberger, and retired DPS Major Casey Goetz are all on the Republican ballot.

In Waller County, incumbent R. Glenn Smith, seeking his fourth term after taking office in January 2009, will face opposition from two Republican candidates: Dan Porter, a reserve at the Waller County Precinct Four Constable’s Office, and Troy Guidry, trainer and certified instructor for the K9 and Mounted Patrol Divisions of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The winner of the primary will face Cedric D. Watson in November.  Watson previously ran against Smith in 2016, where Smith won with 65 percent of the vote.

Early voting in the March primaries runs through Friday.

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