JP candidates talk children, God at meet & greet
Published 10:45 am Thursday, April 19, 2018
By Lorenzo Salinas
Children and God were popular talking points at Tuesday’s Candidate Meet and Greet in Port Arthur.
Candidates for Justice of the Peace Precinct 8 Joseph Guillory and Tom Gillam III participated in a question-and-answer format at West Side Development Center sponsored by the NAACP and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
Guillory emphasized the familial and communal aspect of his campaign.
“My platform is real simple. It’s based on three core values: integrity, trustworthiness and independence.”
Guillory claimed he has been serving the community since 1994, working in groups like the Economic Development Corp. and Port Arthur school board.
“My goal always has been to do better in life, to see the children do better in life.”
Guillory highlighted his tenure with Port Arthur Independent School District, remarking that being a board member instilled values core to the position he’s seeking.
“If you want to see the city change, you’re going to have to vote for the person who would represent your best interest,” he said.
Guillory said he gives glory to God before getting to the pith of his speech: Family matters. He listed truancy and marriages as important to the position of JP, as well as landlord disputes.
“You need someone to apply the law as it’s written, not as it’s interpreted,” Guillory said. “For this election, I’m asking you to do what’s right: Vote your conscience.”
Guillory asked the audience to Google him and the other candidates in order to better understand who they are and what issues they stand for.
“We need to eliminate Port Arthur politics. Everyone here is related to somebody else in this room,” he said. “Vote for competent, passionate and committed people. Vote because they’re the right person for the job… In this town, we’re all family.”
When a person in the audience asked him what he would do for adults if he were elected to office, Guillory once more stressed how kids played a part in his plans.
“It goes hand in hand,” he said. “We got to get these kids back in church… If we can find a way to get kids back in the church, we get the parents, too.”
Guillory said mentoring programs for parents would be needed — and that he could be one to lead adults to those programs.
Gillam ran on a similar campaign of family and community, but also stressed the importance of God to his platform.
“If my record doesn’t speak for me, then nothing else will,” he said. “I have labored, continued to labor and will labor for my constituency in Port Arthur.
“We’ve got to back to our roots. Our roots call upon the name of Jesus.”
Gillam spoke proudly of his “back-to-Bible” basics, pointing to one of his programs that aimed to convert children to Christ.
“Last year we had 22 children receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost,” Gillam said.
“Yes, I’m Christian-based. If anyone has a problem with me being Christian-based, shame-shame-shame on you.”
Gillam also spoke about his mother, citing his diminished presence on the campaign trail due to her poor health.
“If I look tired, that’s because I am tired. I’ve been sleeping every night at the hospital with my momma,” he said.
Gillam said truancy isn’t a big issue for JP, but he nevertheless is looking at developing a youth program staffed by retired teachers from the area.
“These minds are brilliant. If they were good enough to fashion me, they’re good enough to fashion the kids now,” he said.
Gillam said God put him in Port Arthur to do work.
A younger audience member asked him what he would do to rehabilitate people afflicted with mental illness or drug addiction.
Gillam said the JP office holds several functions with Spindletop Center, a mental health and resources server.
“We have many other programs in place and are continuing to bring in new programs.”
Gillem cited a mentoring program called Authentic Manhood that was sponsored by pastors and implemented in the area. In it, adults mentor children — going with them to school, the theater and other outings.
Gillem said he has participated in the program.
Early voting for JP runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 14 through 18. Election day is May 22.
