ELECTION GUIDE
GLEN ROSE REPORTER & YOURGLENROSETX.COM | Thursday, February 13, 2014 | PAGE C17
MEET THE CANDIDATES - Constable, Pct. 2 (race decided by voters in Precinct 3 and 4) Winters • More than two years at college/university • Formal military schools, 22 years • California Reserve Peace Officer Academy, completed
Victor “Vick” Castillo, 51 10-year resident FAMILY • Two daughters • One son • One granddaughter EDUCATION • High school graduate,
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE • Corrections officer, more than three years • Security officer, levels I, II, III and IV • Quality control manager/supervisor • Electronic technician • Substance abuse counselor
• Glen Rose Antique Tractor and Machinery Club VOLUNTEER SERVICE • Habitat for Humanity
Slaton Q&A Q: What are the duties of the office you seek?
Jeff Slaton, 60 • Several stints as a local resident since 1977 • Returned most recently in November 2006. • Close ties with family and friends in Somervell County for 37 years FAMILY • Wife, Melanie Slaton, married for 41 years • Two sons, born in 1978 and 1982, both live in Johnson Co. • Two granddaughters • One grandson EDUCATION • Associate’s Degree in General Business, Weatherford College • Bachelor’s of Business Administration and double major in Security Management, St. John’s University • Professional certifications in several fields, including crisis/ hostage negotiation, classroom training and weapons and tactical deployment instruction CAREER • Somervell County Sheriff’s Office, 1980 • Nuclear security force at Comanche Peak, one of the first 15 officers hired, 1983 • 27 years protecting the public by insuring the protection of infrastructure facilities such as nuclear power plants and the U.S. Government’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves • Supported the U.S. Department of Defense in efforts to secure nuclear and biological weapons in Russia and the former Soviet Union following its collapse CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS • Texas Association of Hostage Negotiators • First United Methodist Church of Glen Rose
A: As a sworn peace officer, the constable holds the same authority and responsibilities of any other Texas peace officer. With this authority comes the ability to enforce state laws and county ordinances, conduct patrols, conduct investigations, make arrests and serve civil and criminal process. The constable has a primary duty to the justice of the peace court whose precinct they serve. As the chief enforcement officer for the court, the constable acts as bailiff, executes criminal and civil process and carries out the orders of the court as directed by the judge. Under the authority granted by the constitution, the constable also provides assistance to other law enforcement agencies when needed. Aside from the “handson” technical duties, the constable is also tasked with administrative requirements. These include recordkeeping of seized assets, fees received and costs incurred by court business. The constable must also present an annual justifiable operating budget to commissioners court and manage it in a responsible manner. Q: What do you see as the most important function of county constable? A: The most important function of the constable is to operate the office in a manner that serves the county as a whole. It is my belief that supporting the county, be it my counterpart in constable precinct 1, the sheriff’s office, Glen Rose Police Department or the county/city governments, all citizens are best served. While many may believe the constable just serves civil papers, the truth is they are fully qualified peace officers. Therefore, if I am serving civil papers, I might as well be patrolling and looking for out-of-the-
• Safety & hazmat officer • Career counselor • Administration/ operations certification • Marine Corps training, 22 years
duties are service in the civil or criminal process of law enforcement citations, warrants, subpoenas and services in the courts. Q: What do you see as the most important function of county constable?
VOLUNTEER SERVICE • None at this time
A: The most important function, in my opinion, would be to provide the services for the people in the community of Somervell County.
Castillo Q&A
Q: Are you a certified peace officer?
CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS • American Legion
Q: What are the duties of constable? A: I am seeking the office of constable precinct 2, in which some of the ordinary events just as any peace officer would. That same service extends to developing operating budgets that are justifiable, cost effective and responsive to the needs of the county. It is no secret that one of the most pressing, if not ‘the’ most pressing issue facing us, is financial. As an operating office of the county, the constable must be able to recommend, justify and implement expenditures and practices that provide a level of safety to the community at a justifiable cost. Q: Are you a certified peace officer? A: I am currently licensed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. Q: Describe your law enforcement — or related — experience. A: In 1980, I joined the Somervell County Sheriff’s Office and worked as a deputy until 1983. At the time, the department consisted of the sheriff, a chief deputy and four patrol deputies sharing used Department of Public Safety cars and working out of the old two-story jail off the square. I had the opportunity to transfer what I learned to the field of private security, while still remaining involved in protection of the public. Throughout my career with Burns Security and Pinkerton Government Services, the focus was primarily the protection of the public from a radiological release from a nuclear plant or the destruction of our nation’s petroleum reserves. One of my key roles was serving on the incident response teams, which would coordinate response to public threats. That led to a more interesting career in Russia and the Former Soviet Union, where I had the opportunity to be part of preventing the theft of nuclear and biological weapons material. Working with the U.S. Department of Defense and other civilian contractors, we assessed security measures at critical facilities, developed physical security systems and protection strategies and oversaw the construction and implementation of those measures.
A: I am currently enrolled in the police academy at Weatherford College, due to start mid-year.
Those years provided me with an insight into what threats were present and who they could come from. An important part of that learning was understanding how to be fiscally responsible, while ensuring that all requirements were met and how to work with people. In 2010, I came full circle to an office with a focus on citizen safety, officer safety and professionalism. As part of that office, I am a crisis/hostage negotiator with the Somervell County Emergency Response Team and serve as a member of the Incident Command Structure for law
Q: Describe your law enforcement — or related — experience. A: My experience includes 22 years of honorable service in the United States Maine Corps, including combat. My military training includes — but is not limited to — the Uniform Code of Military Justice, administration, communication and budgeting accounts for several sections of a Marine Corps unit for operations and maintenance. I attended and completed California Police Academy for a reserve peace officer and worked in the private security industry for more than enforcement response during emergencies. Q: What makes you the best candidate? A: I believe my experiences in law enforcement and private security that I took from Glen Rose stood me in good stead, and upon my return, I believe I can bring something back to help the law enforcement community and county as a whole. My current responsibilities with the sheriff’s office provide me an opportunity as constable to continue my support as part of the response team and incident command. Each time I support
10 years. I achieved the rank of sergeant in corrections for a sheriff’s department. Q: What makes you the best candidate? A: I am mission oriented. I have vast experience of more than 22 years, including combat, in helping ensure the job is always done in a professional manner and completed in the way it was intended to be done — the right way. I am also dedicated. I dedicated my life to the Marine Corps, for my country. I would also dedicate myself to the job as a constable to my county. the sheriff’s office in these roles, it frees up additional manpower to directly support the citizens of the county. My knowledge of the county and its people, coupled with the lessons I have learned about working with people of varying backgrounds and beliefs, enables me to effectively communicate with residents who have been here a lifetime and those who are new to the county. These communication skills are essential whether attempting to defuse a crisis, make an arrest or explain a legal proceeding.