By Chris Moore

chris.moore@panews.com

 

BEAUMONT — Newly elected Precinct 1 Constable Jevonne Pollard was sworn in during the Jefferson County Commissioners’ Court on Monday.

“I’m really excited to get started,” Pollard said. “I want to think my mentor and I guess, now, previous boss Constable (Christopher) Bates.”

Jefferson County Court At Law No. 2 Judge Terrance Holmes swore in the new constable.

Pollard takes over after the commissioners voted unanimously to allow former interim Precinct 1 Constable Charlie Wiggins to transfer to a part-time job in precinct 7.

Wiggins was a part-time deputy constable before being appointed by the commissioners’ court in July after, then Constable Earl White resigned to become the Beaumont fire chief. The commissioners appointed Wiggins by a split vote on the condition that he would not run for the position in the Nov. 6 election.

After Wiggins said the circumstances changed, he decided to run for election. Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick asked Wiggins to step down, but Wiggins declined. Wiggins lost to Pollard in the Nov. 6 election.

The commissioners approved and filed an order Monday canvassing the results of the Nov. 6 election. Precinct 3 Commissioner Michael Sinegal might have saved the court from a potential mishap. The court swore in Pollard before canvassing the election results. Sinegal asked about order of operations, which were unclear, but Pollard stayed after court to be sworn in again just to be sure.

“I don’t want to be out of order,” Sinegal said. “It’s better to be on the safe side.”

Jefferson County Treasurer Tim Funchess said the county made $91,324 over October, which marked the beginning of the fiscal year for the county.

The commissioners were scheduled to have a workshop with Nederland Economic Development Corp., but had to reschedule until next week because the court did not have a quorum, which is required for the commissioners to have an official meeting and discuss county business.

Commissioners’ Court is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Jefferson County Courthouse on Monday.