Click on each item on the list to get Mark's thoughts on these important issues.

Public Safety

As Sheriff I will ensure proactive patrol activities such as dedicated traffic units, K-9 and Directed Patrol. We all understand that good traffic enforcement leads to discovery of other criminal activity such as burglary and suspect identification. I will ensure the alignment of personnel, resources and equipment in providing the best coverage and response times necessary to protect and enhance the safety of citizens in all neighborhoods. I believe law enforcement should be a coordinated effort. I have worked and will continue to work with agencies within and surrounding Comal County. The Sheriff’s Office is sovereign but efforts in law enforcement and communications with other law enforcement agencies needs to be coordinated. We all have the same goal. I will ensure coordination of efforts through communication and combined resources.

Public Awareness Programs/Open Communications

As Sheriff I will have a "Transparency and Open Door Policy" not just as a campaign pledge, but also incorporated into my "Day-to-Day" operations as Sheriff. I will continue the use of Social Media, Town Hall Meetings, Night Out Meetings, Speaking Events, K-9 Demonstrations, the DARE program within our schools, Citizen’s Sheriff's Academy, and the Junior Deputy Program for education to our senior and junior citizens alike. I will work for the expansion of the on-campus School Resource Officer program, bringing public safety awareness and protection to our community school campuses. (Expansion of the present High Schools to additional High Schools and Middle Schools within Comal County)

Expansion Plan for the Comal County Sheriff's Office

As your Candidate for Sheriff I have a list of ideas for direction and vision for the Sheriff's Office. We have a rapidly expanding county, so as the county grows so will the Sheriff’s Office. Currently there is no plan except the 20 year plan for the new jail that will be voted on in the November 2015 election. The current concept has a plan to build for a capacity jail of approximately 589 beds. The facility if/once constructed will house up to 589 beds. The facility will have the capability to be expanded to the 900 bed count and the infrastructure will already have been built. I will utilize the resources we have currently. Again, initially with an approach to the challenge of "Best use of current resources". Align personnel, resources, and equipment by providing best coverage, experience and abilities to run the daily requirements of the expanded facility. As deputies and support staff are needed, I will ask Commissioner’s Court for the appropriate personnel and equipment to keep up with the needs of the county and its citizens to provide proactive law enforcement.

Approach to Drugs within the Community

As Sheriff of Comal County I will utilize the resources we have currently. We have the K-9 program, Gang Offenders Narcotics Enforcement (GONE) Unit, Directed Patrol and Metro Narcotics Task Force. We also have a deputy assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in San Antonio. These resources will be focused in the areas where we have issues with drugs. I will ensure the alignment of personnel, resources and equipment in providing the best coverage and response times necessary to protect and enhance the safety of citizens in all neighborhoods. Again, I believe law enforcement should be a coordinated effort. We as a law enforcement agency will only benefit from the use of a consolidated effort from several law enforcement agencies. I have worked and will continue to work with agencies within and surrounding Comal County. The Sheriff’s Office may be sovereign, but again its efforts in law enforcement and communications with other law enforcement agencies needs to be effectively coordinated. We all have the same goal. I will ensure coordination of efforts through communication and combined resources.

Gun Control

As the Sherriff of Comal County, I consider myself an oath keeper. I am a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment. I will see that the Sheriff’s Office enforces the law while protecting the rights of citizens concerning guns. My approach to the issue of Federal Intervention is, again, that I consider myself an oath keeper and will by oath protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and the State of Texas.

More Effective and Efficient Law Enforcement, Policies, and Procedures

I was a principal part in the development of our Professional Conduct policy within the Comal County Sheriff's Office in our efforts to improve our policies and procedures. I intend to continue the use of the Policies and Procedures laid down by the current administration, but will where necessary provide added improvements to enhance the effective and efficient law enforcement policies and procedures within the Sheriff's Office.

Maintaining Quality, Professional People within the Sheriff's Office

Qualified people and resources are hard to come by and keep in today's environment. Empowering employees to do their job is important and as Sheriff I will ensure that that happens. An employee must be happy with themselves and their work environment. That not only includes recognition for a "Job Well Done", but a job with the right culture and environment that makes them want to come to work in the morning. I am a "task driven" person with "people person" characteristics. The personnel are the important part of our mission within the Sheriff's Office. My leadership traits will be instrumental in leading and directing them to what needs to be done. I will use my policy of the "Right Person for the Right Job" to ensure job satisfaction. I will use my previous experience within the Sheriff's Office as training coordinator to ensure quality training is available and that the personnel have the time to accomplish that training in their professional development. We will set goals and objectives in all our personnel development programs with measurable milestones. I have vision of what we can do to improve and the necessary focus on what needs to be done to accomplish that vision

Effective and Efficient use of a Minimized Budget

Again as your Sheriff, I will begin by best utilization of the current resources. Provide the best alignment of personnel, resources, and equipment, thus providing best coverage and response times in order to protect and enhance the safety of citizens in all neighborhoods within a minimized budget. With my Transparent Policy of communications, I will have the ability to show budget savings within the Sheriff's Office and how this is being accomplished on a day to day basis. The key here is to be able to be creative, resourceful and innovative in my approach to operating the Sheriff's Office. As the Captain assigned to Corrections since 2013, we have overseen projects that enhance services at no cost to the county and have saved a significant amount of money on a new food service provider. For example, we have been able to initiate a food service provider that will save the county significant money every year feeding inmates. Currently, we are working on a new program that will save the county money providing medical services to inmates. Several programs such as money kiosks have been initiated that do not cost the county any money, but provide easier access and make procedures for handling inmate money much easier. We will continue to utilize equipment through the Texas 1033 Program. We will continue to look for ways to maximize personnel and save money.

As outlined above, I have discussed ideas that are the direction and vision I have for the Comal County Sheriff's Office. Integrating all law enforcement agencies, developing a bond between the Sheriff's Office and communities and empowering the deputies to do their jobs are visions I believe all citizens of Comal County will benefit from. There are more policies and procedures that will be implemented under my leadership to bring effective and efficient law enforcement to Comal County.

Finally, I have had the distinct honor of serving citizens of Comal County for the last 25 years in a variety of law enforcement leadership positions. It is my desire to continue to serve you in a broad and more effective way as the Sheriff of Comal County. I am seeking your support and vote as the Republican Candidate for the Office of Sheriff of Comal County in order to make our community the safest possible place to live, work and raise a family.