Democratic candidate Zena Stephens, a former deputy chief with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, will face Joe “QB” Stevenson, another longtime lawman, in a runoff for the party’s nominee for sheriff in the November General Election.

With 106 of the 109 voting precincts in at press time, Stephens led the race with 7,839 votes, or 37 percent, compared to Stevenson’s 7,125 or 34 percent.

Rounding out the votes in the Democratic race was Rod Carroll, who received 5,960 or 28 percent.

Stephens is currently police chief of Prairie View A&M University with a total of 26 years experience in law enforcement.

She started her career with the Beaumont Police Department where she worked from 1989 to 1996.

During her campaign Stephens said she wanted to “get back to basics” in order to reestablish trust. Transparency is very important in reestablishing that trust, she said.

Stevenson, chief deputy with the Precinct 1 constable’s office, has spent almost 10 years with the sheriff’s office including five years as a book-in desk officer and three years as a D.A.R.E. officer.

While on the campaign trail Stevenson said interdepartmental division within the sheriff’s office is an important issue.

The sheriff, corrections officers and law enforcement need to have a solid relationship in order to function properly and efficiently, he said.

The winner of the runoff election will face Republican candidate Ray Beck in the November General Election. Beck ran uncontested for his party’s nomination.

E-mail: sherry.koonce@panews.com

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