Name: Kathy D. Marcom
Office Seeking: Sheriff
Current Occupation: Self Employed
Family: I have a blended family
Education: Graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1974, and attended the University of Texas with a degree in Criminal Justice.
In seeking this position, what are your objectives?
My goals as Sheriff includes: Introducing Community-based Policing. This will include engaging people in the community to not only report crimes but to become involved in the prevention of crimes.
Transparency in the Sheriff’s Department is very important to me. I will not hide behind requests for an Attorney Generals’ Opinion to release information. I believe that the citizens of the county have a right to the truth. They should also have the access to body cam video when an officer does something questionable.
Impartiality: treat everyone the same and with respect
Accountability: we answer to the citizens
Eliminating Drug Use
Eliminating Drug Dealers
What are your qualifications for this office?
I have a degree in criminal justice. This is more than what is required to become a Texas Department of Safety State Trooper.
How would your election benefit the voters?
The voters will have a sheriff that is trained in Criminal Justice, understands the Criminal Justice System, and has studied different types of Law Enforcement approaches. I understand that Law Enforcement is more than just “putting the bad guy in jail”
List three major issues you would confront if elected and how would you work to resolve those issues?
DRUG USE... Drug use in Stephens County is a major issue. When a young person is arrested with drugs a conviction, the conviction can impact the rest of their lives. I would work closely with the drug user, the District Attorney, the Courts, and Abilene Regional Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Arcada) to avoid a criminal conviction that will follow the arrested person for the rest of their life. We should be here to help those with addictions.
THEFT... Theft is a major issue that is fueled by drug use. By reducing drug use, the offense of theft will also be reduced.
DRUG DEALERS... As soon as I take office I will commence a major undercover drug operation.
Name: Kevin Roach
Office Seeking: Stephens County Sheriff
Current Occupation: Chief Deputy of the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office
Family: I have been married to my wife Melissa Roach for over 19 years. We have one son Kadin Roach.
Education: West Central Texas Regional Law Enforcement Academy.
I completed the basic Peace Officer Academy with 560 hours of training and now have over 1300 total hours of Law Enforcement training. I have over 21 years of Law Enforcement experience.
Texas Christian University.
I completed the TCU Ranch Management certificate program.
In seeking this position, what are your objectives?
As Sheriff of Stephens County, I will continue to suppress all crime. I will aggressively focus on all crime that promotes the illegal narcotic use that plagues our county.
I will foster interagency collaboration in Stephens County. I believe that a united front will produce more effective results. I have a great working relationship with other Law Enforcement Agencies and will work alongside these agencies for the betterment of Stephens County.
I will continue to work towards developing a more fluid justice system in Stephens County. A more fluid system will not only mitigate tax payer’s money being spent on housing inmates in the county jail for prolonged incarcerations but will also get repeat offenders out of our community.
I will strive to improve community relationships. Community involvement is the key to effective law enforcement. I will work to promote a more proactive role in Stephens County Law Enforcement.
What are your qualifications for this office?
I have been involved in Law Enforcement in Stephens County for over twenty-one years. I began my career in 1998 as a detention officer working in the Stephens County Jail. I have worked in every aspect of the Sheriff’s Office.
For the past four years, I have served as the Chief Deputy for the Sheriff’s Office and oversaw the day to day operation of the Sheriff’s Office and the County Jail. My duties include working alongside The Breckenridge Municipal Court, The Stephens County Court, The Justice of the Peace Court, The District Court, Child Protective Court Judges, and Attorney General of Texas Judges.
I am well versed in the civil process. I am also a Texas State licensed detention officer and a Texas State certified jail administrator. I am well versed in the Texas Commission on Jail Standard’s statues that govern the operation of County Jails in Texas. I know what it takes to operate a professional Sheriff’s Office and County Jail. I was raised in this county and I am dedicated to the citizens of Stephens County.
How would your election benefit the voters?
My election will benefit the votes in many ways. I am currently a licensed Peace Officer and will be able to hit the ground running as your Sheriff. I have a handson working knowledge of the agency and I believe that I know the Law Enforcement needs of Stephens County. I will maintain the confidence and respect of the citizens of Stephens County.
List three major issues you would confront if elected and how would you work to resolve those issues?
1. Community Relationships.
I will work to improve and promote community relationships. Community relationships are vital for any agency to be successful. Law Enforcement relies on the community for support just as the community relies on Law Enforcement for protection and service. By engaging the citizens of the community we will be more successful in deterring criminal behavior.
2. Proactive Law Enforcement.
The nature of Law Enforcement is reactive. A proactive agency is more effective in deterring criminal activity. I will work to optimize the talents and abilities of each member of the agency. I will invest the resources available towards intelligence-led policing. I will continue to provide high-quality Law Enforcement services to Stephens County,
3. Repeat Offenders.
Historically criminals in Stephens County have eluded justice due to the high volume of stagnate cases in our court system. I will continue to work with all criminal prosecutors to mitigate the repeat offenders that continually victimize the citizens of Stephens County. This will be accomplished by maintaining zero tolerance for these repeat offenders. I believe in and encourage rehabilitation, but also believe that criminals that show a repetitive pattern of criminal behavior should be held accountable.
Name: Rob Durham
What office are you seeking? Place 2, Breckenridge City Council
What is your current occupation? Sales consultant, Bayer Chevrolet-Buick-Cadillac
Tell us a little bit about your family: Married to Lori Durham (25 years); Two children: son Riley (20); daughter Sidney (19).
What are your community involvements/ civic affiliations? Present: Breckenridge Lions Club, Big Country East Fellowship of Christian Athletes board member, Texas High School Basketball Officials Association-Abilene Chapter board member; Past: Virginia’s House/Dr. Goodall’s House Board of Directors, Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce.
What is your education/military service? Cisco Junior College, Tarleton State University, Grand Canyon University (Business Management).
What training, experiences, and characteristics qualify you for this position? I have been a lifelong resident of the city of Breckenridge and have served on the city council for one elected term and a one-year appointed term. My family was some of the first African American settlers in Breckenridge and Stephens County, so my roots are firmly planted in this community.
My mother and uncles were Breckenridge High School graduates, and other members of my family were firmly rooted in our community. I’ve seen times where our community has grown and seen our community shrink at times. But, most of all, I’ve also seen when our community has thrived. Breckenridge is a great place to raise your family. That’s why I want to continue to serve as your city councilman because my heart and my head want to see Breckenridge continue to grow beyond our years.
I have no axes to grind so I am running for re-election to continue my personal obligation to do what I can to better our community. I am doing what I feel is the best way I can serve my community and its citizens and do my part as a resident of Breckenridge.
What do you think are the most critical issues facing the community and what would you do to address them, if elected? Several critical issues are facing our community. However, those issues can only be solved if our citizens band together for the good and make sure these issues get resolved in a teamwork fashion.
1. Our city infrastructure has always been an issue for several years. However, I have always said, “You cannot completely fix in five years what’s been messed up for 50.” Our aging streets coupled with the constant repair of our water and sewer system have been in a position where we cannot fix them; we can only try to maintain them. We must put ourselves in a position as taxpayers and a community to fix items, rather than bandaid our infrastructure.
2. Another issue has been our tax rate. As a city councilman, my tax rate goes up along with every other citizen. Just like our community, I hate to see those rates continue to rise. Our valuations must stabilize where people can maintain a decent quality of life, while also being able to provide for their families. I am aware of the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of our community were stricken with lost employment and furloughs. I want to see that we can try to make sure that our families can survive financially in Breckenridge. To do that, we must balance out the tax rate and cost of living. With that increased rate, we need to be able to see the physical successes of those rising rates.
However, in recent years, the rising rates have only been elevated to simply help our city survive. We must graduate from that ideology, or we will continue to spin our wheels with no progress for our community.
3. We must continue to show our transparency to our community and encourage education and interaction with our citizens. There are numerous ways the citizens of our community can reach out to our city government. The city government can be reached via phone, email, and other online access. The minutes to all our city meetings are posted on the city of Breckenridge website (www.breckenridgetx. gov). Social media runs rampant with people who don’t know the full function of the community they live in. It’s up to us to bridge that gap. Our meetings are open to the public every first Tuesday of the month. I highly encourage citizens to come and sit in on a meeting. As a current member of the council, we encourage citizens to come and ask questions to find out what goes on in the place they raise their children, pay their taxes, and work every day.
Unresearched speculation can run rampant at times, but the willingness to educate on certain situations also lies in the hands of our citizens. Therefore, our council should make sure our citizens are comfortable attending meetings and have that freedom to know what is going on with their tax dollars.
4. I think our community needs to work from the inside out. We must work together as a community and move forward in a sense of making Breckenridge an even better place to call home. We have citizens who will vote for every national election but not know where to cast a vote for their local election. We must make sure people know they have a voice, not only for positions in Washington D.C. and Austin but also in Breckenridge, the place they call home. People are always quick to criticize our community. However, when people are unobjective in their mindset, then it’s easy to look at life like their glass is half empty. Breckenridge has a lot to offer. We have several quality of life items that need repair and maintenance. Those items are functional because they are used by our community (the Breckenridge City Park, Pool, Skate Park, Trade Barns, etc.) We have the infrastructure in place to host future events in our community. But, we must work together as citizens and form partnerships to help get those items to our community. I do understand the COVID-19 restrictions have halted a lot of items, just as it stopped several of our annual events that are hosted by our community. However, this would be the perfect time to go out and see what we can plan for our future to keep Breckenridge thriving and generate pride and positive citizenship.
Describe an accomplishment of which you are proud and how it helps make you the best candidate for the office? I take no personal credit for all the accomplishments of our community because it is a team effort to be successful. We have accomplished projects across our community. Those projects could not be accomplished without the hard work of our city workers and staff. As a member of the city commission, our goal is to help pass policies, enforce ordinances, and to make a sound budget for the city of Breckenridge. It is our duty as a city commission to support the people who are involved in the day-to-day operations of our city services. Without those men and women, we simply could not get it done. Our firemen, police officers, city workers, and staff work hard and tirelessly. I support them in all they do because they are the ones sacrificing their lives and having to leave their families to provide services to our community. I pride myself on keeping an open mind toward helping my community be the best it can be. I love everything about Breckenridge, and I want to ensure that our community will continue its strong ties in the years to come.
