ORANGE COUNTY, Texas — Two Orange County candidates are focused on your vote as they prepare for the March primary.
Orange County Constable Matt Ortego is defending his seat against challenger Orange County Sheriff's Office's Captain Joey Jacobs.
The forum today was a chance for voters to get to know both candidates hoping to be elected Precinct 4 Constable.
Dozens of people where at the Vidor Elementary School cafeteria to hear from both men who have decades of experience in law enforcement.
If elected Captain Jacobs wants to host more town hall meetings to get input from the residents of Orange. He's hoping to bring more accountability, stability and experience to the Constable's office.
Constable Ortego has 17 years of experience in law enforcement. He says he wants to create more youth programs and a Constable's scholarship program.
Meanwhile, the topic many voters were wondering about was the incident that Ortego addressed the night of November 29, 2023 when officers showed up at his house.
He admitted that he was drunk and is ashamed of what happened. Ortego says doctors determined he suffered from a depressive episode and was cleared to go back to work.
"To the incident that occurred having the outpour of love of people I think it helped me out more than it did hurt me. Did it raise questions? Yes but I don't have a problem answering those questions," Ortego said. "I'm not going to hide behind a keyboard if somebody wants to meet with me face to face to talk about it I'd be more than happy to talk about it. At the end of the day I love my community, I love my children. I had just consumed too much alcohol and I made a bad choice."
Captain Jacobs responded to the incident.
"We're going to run on the merits of my 27 years of law enforcement. What my opponent has done I'm not here to address that. I want a better Precinct 4. That means a lot to me and if the citizens of Precinct 4 will give me that opportunity I'm not going to let them down," said Jacobs.
If elected Captain Jacobs says he would be taking an $11,000 pay cut, but it's not a problem to him.
Constable Ortego says the work he's already done, like shutting down game rooms, speaks for itself.
Election day takes place on March 5, 2024. Voters in Jefferson, Orange, Chambers and Liberty County can vote at any polling location within their counties.
To find out everything you need to know about, head to our 12News voting guide.