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Two candidates are vying to serve as Fort Bend County sheriff in the Nov. 5 general election. Incumbent Eric Fagan, a Democrat, will go against challenger Marshall Slot, a Republican.
Both candidates came out ahead against others in the March primaries.
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
*indicates incumbent
What programs or initiatives would you prioritize if elected to the position?
Continuing: Crime Reduction Unit; human trafficking (over 100 arrests); gang/narcotics operations (over 1 million fentanyl pills confiscated); school safety (helped to pass the Lisa Torry Smith Act); working with mental health professionals; collaboration with federal agencies; grant writing team (secured $5.1 million, highest ever in the history of FBCSO).
The sheriff’s office is facing a staffing shortage, particularly among its detention officers. How do you plan to address this?
I have been working with Commissioner’s Court and have secured an additional stipend for detention officers. Also, I obtained a 10% to 18% pay increase for all deputies. I am currently working with commissioners for an additional raise for all first responders at the FBCSO. We have increased recruiting efforts.
If elected, how would you improve communication and transparency between the office and residents?
Continue to publish annual report each year, which was never been done, providing transparency to the public on the crime stats, improvements, and accomplishments. Continuing: Citizen’s Review Board, mediation, Juvenile Justice Advisory Council for high school students, Project Lifesaver (aids in finding missing citizens who are intellectually disabled).
What’s the biggest issue facing Fort Bend County, and how would you address it?
Nationally and in [Fort Bend County], drugs, gangs, school safety and manpower shortages are priorities. These issues are being addressed by my initiatives and pay raises we continue to request. Studies have shown [the county] is one of the safest counties, and I want to continue building upon the accomplishments we have made.
What programs or initiatives would you prioritize if elected to the position?
My priority is to restore trust within the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office by appointing a servant leadership-driven command staff. I will likely restructure the agency into three commands—enforcement, detention and administration—to enhance efficiency and ensure the effective delivery of law enforcement services to our community.
The sheriff’s office is facing a staffing shortage, particularly among its detention officers. How do you plan to address this?
I will conduct staffing and operational audits to ensure appropriateness. I will focus on retention by improving work conditions, leadership and scheduling options. I will expedite recruitment, especially for civilian jailers, and enhance career development opportunities. I will improve operational efficiency by upgrading technology and contracting non-custodial roles where possible.
If elected, how would you improve communication and transparency between the office and residents?
I will establish community liaisons throughout the county, launch a real-time online dashboard showing department activities, and hold regular public meetings to receive positive and constructive feedback. These initiatives will enhance communication, transparency and accountability, meeting our diverse community’s needs and improving our services.
What’s the biggest issue facing Fort Bend County, and how would you address it?
The biggest issue is community safety. When elected, I will expect servant leadership principles to be demonstrated every day by the members of FBCSO. This will help us ensure we retain, recruit, and train the highest caliber law enforcement professionals to serve Fort Bend County.
