BEAUMONT, Texas — Voters in the Jefferson County Democratic primary election have said yes to another term for their sheriff.
Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens won the Democratic primary race on Tuesday with 10,647 votes, or 90.3% of the vote.
Stephens, who has been sheriff since 2016, faced challenger, Shanter Norman, who received 1,146 votes, or 9.7% of the vote.
She will go on to face Republican Steven Broussard in the general election in November.
Stephens told 12News recently that she's been able to accomplish a lot in her time in office and wants to continue to do so.
"I think we have great relationships across partisan lines in our community. We've done a lot of good things, and I'd love to continue doing this job," said Stephens.
She says wants to create diversion centers to rehabilitate offenders who are suffering from mental health challenges.
"Our community needs it. To divert people who are suffering from mental health issues from the criminal justice system and getting them the help they need. It costs taxpayers a whole lot of money to house those individuals in our correctional facility," Stephens said.
Stephens says she successfully implemented technology for inmates to maintain better contact with families. She also wants to maintain the professionalism and fiscal responsibility of the department.
"We started a lot of initiatives, and we just want to have the opportunity to finish those things," Stephens told 12News.
Norman, her challenger spent 15 years in law enforcement including more than 10 years at the sheriff’s office as a jailer and in the patrol division.
Currently a West Orange Independent School District police officer, Norman is also an Army veteran who served in the Gulf War and believes he's the breath of fresh air that Jefferson County needs.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.