NEDERLAND — Candidates for Jefferson County Sheriff, Judge 136^th District Court and Judge County Court at Law No. 2 had a chance to meet the public during the 2016 Mid-County Candidates Forum on Tuesday.

The event, hosted by the Nederland Chamber of Commerce, was held at First United Methodist Church Community Fellowship Center. Each candidate had five minutes to introduce themselves and their respective platforms.

Democratic sheriff candidate Zena Stephens said police work is about more than putting people in jail and transparency and communication are major parts of being an effective sheriff.

“We sit on our hands and pretend nothing is happening in Jefferson County,” Stephens said, referring to actions ongoing across the nation. She called for a change, not because she is African American or a female but because she is qualified, engaged in the community and can communicate with people.

“We communicate with people, not just those who are 50, 60 or even 30. If you look at the problems across the country, it’s those who are 18-25 in the communication gap.”

If elected Stephens says she plans to introduce policy that other cities already have such as Dallas, Arlington and San Antonio and bring the department into the 21^st century.

Procedural justice and making sure young officers treat others with dignity is an important key, she said.

Republican sheriff candidate Ray Beck wants to be part of the sheriff’s office and be their leader.

“There are a lot of buzz words in law enforcement. Integrity. My opponent and I have high integrity. My experience, there’s a big separation. I’ve got 40 years and by way of her life she doesn’t,” Beck said. “”An ugly buzz word is corruption. I’m a tough nut to crack. But what has changed in our lives is social media. Those little snippets you see that show an officer doing a grave injustice. When the smoke clears it shows the officer is doing the best he or she can.”

Beck pledged to personally address all members of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office — all 438 of them — and tell of his goals and objectives to go forward.

There are also 223 officers who work at the county jail who, he said, work every day with between 800 to 1,000 people who don’t like them. He wants to lead them as well as sheriff.

Beck would also like to work with other departments in the area such as police departments as a team and have a program similar to that of Justice of the Peace Brad Burnett, who works with truancy.

Candidates for County Court at Law No. 2, Luke Nichols, Republican, and Judge Terrence Holmes, Democratic, gave information on the court and their qualifications.

Nichols explained the court handles misdemeanors such as DWIs and shoplifting but this is where some of the area’s youth are first introduced to the criminal system.

“If the court is run right, this will be their last time in court,” Nichols said.

The most effective way to deal with such cases is firmly and with respect and making sure those on probation take advantage of programs to help them.

Holmes, if elected, will incorporate a five-point plan of fair and speedy trials, an independent judiciary, transparent administration, job training and job placement, he said.

This plan can break the cycle that leads to crime, from joblessness to drugs to crime to doing time.

“With the five-point plan we will produce productive people and productive people won’t commit crimes,” Holmes said.

Baylor Wortham, Democrat, and Dana Timaeus, Republican — candidates for the Judge 136^th District Court — spoke of their experience.

Wortham has worked in the district attorney’s office and as special assistant to the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas where he was tasked with combating violent crime in Port Arthur. He also worked as Assistant U.S. Attorney.

He said he would like for the court to be able to perform search warrants and expand the dockets to be more efficient.

“Outside-the-box thinking is important,” Wortham said. One idea is that when court is not in session to hold sessions to train officers on the proper etiquette on presenting evidence.

Timaeus said he was licensed to practice law in the same year his opponent was born and that he is not a political person.

“I’m nobody’s political legacy and don’t want to be associated with any political dynasty,” Timaeus said.

His goal, he said, is for the courts to be as good as they can be and to serve the entire community.

Early voting for the election begins Oct. 24 and election day is Nov. 8.

Mary Meaux: 409-721-2429

Twitter: @MaryMeauxPANews