BEAUMONT, Texas — On Thursday, the Press Club of Southeast Texas held a Jefferson County candidate forum where community members heard from the candidates running in upcoming elections.
Two of the candidates are running for Jefferson County Sheriff. They are incumbent sheriff Zena Stephens and Steven Broussard.
Sheriff Stephens hopes voters will elect her to a third term. Her opponent, Broussard is hoping to get back in law enforcement as the county's top cop.
Broussard has spent the last 25 years as a sheriff's deputy before retiring into construction. He says he's running as a constitutional sheriff, promising to protect the constitutional rights of citizens and employees.
Broussard tells 12News he believes some deputies have been terminated without cause during Sheriff Stephens' tenure.
"And I think I can get that under control. It's out of control. And I'm also running as a constitutional sheriff, to help protect the rights of citizens and employees. So over the last several years, in fact eight to 10 years, 50 employees have been terminated without just cause. I intend to bring an end to that," Broussard said.
Broussard says he will focus on managing the budget, active shooter threat trainings and more.
"I intend to look into these no-knock search warrants that are being presented, where people are being harmed. Children are being harmed, and I want to look into a lot the active shooter classes that are now mandatory and try to implant more protection for the school districts," Broussard said.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Stephens says she knows there's still work to be done. She tells 12News she terminated less than 14 people in four years and gave a few examples.
"Was having sex on duty with, you know it was consensual, but that person got terminated. Right? So when people violate laws yeah they're gonna get terminated. But any other issues we have a disciplinary process that we go through. And again, I'm transparent," she said.
Stephens says during her tenor she's required all deputies to requite body cameras, implemented new technology in the jail and more.
If re-elected Stephens says she plans to focus on mental health resources for deputies and everyday citizens.
"We're finally almost fully staffed again. And so we can do some of the things we originally promised our constituents," said Stephens. "Getting help for people who are suffering with mental illness, who many times ends up in our correctional facility, or in our criminal justice system and so I think we have a plan to try to lessen that burden."
You have until October 7, 2024 to register to vote in the upcoming November election.