More Highlights from Sunday’s Candidate Forum

Republican candidates for Pct. 3 and Pct. 4 Constable had a chance to speak to the public at a political forum in Schulenburg hosted by the Fayette County Republican Party on Sunday, Jan. 28.

Both of the candidates in the Pct. 4 race, incumbent Jason Strickland and his opponent Tammy Jo McCleney, participated in the forum. The incumbent Pct. 3 Constable, Robert Chambers, did not attend the event. But his opponent, Darrell Maze, did participate. The constable’s job mostly involves serving court papers. They must be licensed peace officers, and they have the authority to make arrests and issue citations.

Strickland touted his years of service as Constable, having served since 2001, and his deep ties to the community.

“In 2001, I ran against a 28-year incumbent and won,” Strickland said. “I think that was a pretty good accomplishment. My family roots run deep here, and I don’t plan on leaving this community. My whole life revolves around public service. I’m a 36-year member of the fire department. I’m still in the fire department and I’m proud of the organization.”

McCleney spoke about her community outreach efforts at her previous jobs with the Austin Police Department and Belton Police Department. She said she would like to continue those efforts if she’s elected as the Pct. 4 Constable.

“As constable, you’re not responding to 911 calls all day,” she said. “So you have time to work on community projects, which is where my heart is. At the Belton Police Department, I started and ran the RUOK program, which is an elderly care call-in program. We had volunteers call elderly residents in Belton who lived alone. … In that program, while I was there, we ended up saving seven people. Either they had fallen and couldn’t get up, or they had a diabetic issue, or whatever it was. If they didn’t answer their phone call, we would send an officer to check on them. And those officers were able to save those lives. That type of project is very important to me, and I feel like I can do that along with my constable duties.”

Maze said he will serve with compassion and care for the community if elected.

“I’m not above anybody,” Maze said. “I told this to lots of young men and women when I was a field training officer on the streets. Just be-cause you’re carrying that badge and that gun does not give you the right to talk down to anybody. It will not keep you from catching a bullet, a knife or a butt-whippin’ out on the street. You treat everybody with dignity. If it means stopping to help somebody change a tire on the road, you’re not above that – help and serve.”

The position currently pays a part-time salary. Mc-Cleney said that if she’s elected, she would work as a fulltime constable.

“It is currently a part-time position,” McCleney said. “I would like to turn it into a full-time position. I think with some hard work and dedication, you could do that … If you’re making arrests and writing citations, bringing some revenue to the precinct and the County, you could definitely justify these becoming full-time positions. Most of the counties around us Bastrop County, Lee County – the constables are full time. I have a full-time work ethic.”

Strickland works full-time for the City of Schulenburg in the water department. Strickland indicated that he may soon retire. When he does, and if he’s re-elected, Strickland said he would work full-time as constable.

“The things I may change, if I become a full-time constable, as I said I would, is increase the presence at our school campuses, both public and private,” Strickland said. “I think that’s a very important issue, and I would like to help out.”

Maze said he would increase the presence of the constable position if he’s elected.

“From what I’ve seen, just going around and speaking with the public, some have never seen the constable’s vehicle out patrolling the streets,” Maze said. “Some don’t know the constable or what the constable does. I think it needs to be more proactive. You need to be out. You need to be seen.”

Also speaking at the forum were the two candidates for Fayette County Republican Party Chairman: incumbent Deborah Frank and challenger Michael Schlabach.

Frank said her main focus for staying in office involves maintaining the integrity of local elections.

“Whoever takes on this position needs to have a complete understanding of what it demands in personal time and expense, the political processes of the Fayette County Republican Party and the Republican Party of the State of Texas, especially the election process,” Frank said. “The best way to attain this knowledge is to experience it firsthand, which I have done since 2010 … The most important function of the County Chair is to conduct the primary election and runoff elections every other year.”

Schlabach said he wants to revitalize the local party and get young people more involved.

“Get some younger people involved,” he said. “Get them to come to socials and have a good time. You’ve got to bring them to you. Don’t just say, ‘Come to a meeting.’ They’re not going to come … We need to get more and more registered Republicans because the Democrats are moving in. Our kids are moving away and their kids are moving here. We need to get out there because there are a lot more Democrats moving into these counties.”

Watch all of the candidates’ complete remarks at our recording of the forum, available on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ Fayettecountyrecord.