Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series detailing Democratic candidates at a Town Hall meeting Tuesday.

Democratic candidates lined up in Port Arthur Tuesday to introduce themselves to voters, provide a glimpse of their platform and field questions from the audience during a town hall meeting at the old OCAW Union Hall.

The candidates for U.S. Representative 14, 136^th District Court Judge, County Court at Law No. 2, Sheriff, County Commissioner Precinct 3, and County Democrat Chair drew a crowd in excess of 100 people out on a cold night.

Democratic candidate for the U.S. representative position Michael Cole, a Southeast Texas educator started the meeting, but it was the Jefferson County Sheriff’s race that drew the most heat.

Cole is running against incumbent Randy Weber, R-Friendswood. He is doing so to allow Southeast Texans an equal voice, he said.

Weber, he said, does not represent the 700,000 people in this district, but rather the money checks that put him into office.

Three candidates, all from Beaumont, are running for Jefferson County sheriff including Rod Carroll, Zena Stephens and Joe “QB” Stevenson.

Carroll has 27 years experience in law enforcement, and was the owner of a Stat Care EMS, and has been very involved in community volunteerism.

“You will be hiring a new sheriff, the current sheriff, Mitch Woods, is retiring,” Carroll said. “You need to ask what has a candidate done to be prepared?

Carroll said his experience in law enforcement coupled with his business expertise, which would help him with the sheriff’s million budget and with working with the department’s employees make him uniquely qualified for the job.

Carroll said he believes officers should wear body cameras, and that he intends to initiate a community enhancement unit, if elected.

Stephens is currently the police chief of Prairie View A&M University. She has 26 years law enforcement experience starting with her first job at the Beaumont Police Department.

“I am homegrown. I worked the streets, learned how to stay alive, how to show compassion,” she said. “I have always wanted to be a police officer. I am compassionate about the community.”

She said it would do no good for law enforcement to have body cameras if they were not turned on.

She cautioned that the sheriff’s office would likely be facing a budget shortage this next year, which would necessitate a focus on the basics — patrolling the streets of Jefferson County.

Stevenson has many years experience in law enforcement, including seven in corrections and as Precinct 6 constable.

“My approach is different, I dare not try to impress you with all my credentials. I showed while constable I was committed,” he said.

The sheriff job, he said, requires someone who is impartial and fair.

“I did play favoritism, good ole’ boyism, classmateism, or familyism,” he said.

As sheriff, the head of the department should know his employees, to work beside them.

After the candidates spoke, the audience asked questions including one posed at Stephens.

“Are you delusional? Why run for a position that would dilute the African-American vote? “

Stephens said she had indeed filed second on the ballot, but as responsible citizens, voters should go to the polls and vote for the best candidate.

Stephenson noted he had announced his intention to run as early as 2012.

Another question asked Carroll about his experience in law enforcement. At a prior campaign speech he had indicated he had 12 years full time experience and at Tuesday’s event he said he had 27 years of experience in law enforcement.

Carroll explained he had spent a number of years working as a reserve under former Jefferson County Sheriff Carl Griffin and Mitch Woods.

E-mail: sherry.koonce@panews.com