All three candidates for the Taylor County Sheriff election took the stage tonight at a forum held at the Buffalo Gap City Hall.
They each had their time to speak and answer questions, and there was a little heated debate.
Incumbent candidate Les Bruce began with his two main objectives for the term if reelected-more training and the focusing efforts on the Taylor County Jail.
Ricky Bishop also spoke about the two issues- emphasizing the need to add more pro-active patrol.
Art Cesarez then spoke about his plan to bring changes and confronted what would become the main issue for the night- the voluntary drug tests.
"This election process has gotten ugly, it's gotten nasty in certain areas," said Bruce. "As always, I am doing what I believe is the right thing, I"m standing on my integrity and my honor.
At his turn to speak, candidate Ricky Bishop said, "I would like to get away from that and move on to some other agendas you know like patrol being more proactive some issues at the jail, warrant division."
Cesarez added, "Integrity is the first thing that we must protect and any time there's a question about integrity particularly with something as easy as a drug test. It affects the very fiber of the institution, there is distrust lost between the public and everywhere you go people want to know."
Les Bruce called some of the allegations for him not taking the test- mere banter and said that lies were being spread about him-
Cesarez rebutted that saying it was more about transparency than anything else- he also focused on saying changes were needed.
When asked about why he decided to change over to the republican party Cesarez answered that it was a part of his point of making needed changes and that the party went more in line with his beliefs.
Bishop seemed the most conserved in his answers- wanting to simply move on from the drug test debate and talk about his points.
In the end as much as they tried- the drug test debate continued- but each made their points about what they had to offer- their various experience- ranging from serving in the military to volunteering as a firefighter.
It hasn't been confirmed whether or night tonight was the final forum for the three candidates.
Early voting has already begun for the race- final votes will be cast on May 29.
They each had their time to speak and answer questions, and there was a little heated debate.
Incumbent candidate Les Bruce began with his two main objectives for the term if reelected-more training and the focusing efforts on the Taylor County Jail.
Ricky Bishop also spoke about the two issues- emphasizing the need to add more pro-active patrol.
Art Cesarez then spoke about his plan to bring changes and confronted what would become the main issue for the night- the voluntary drug tests.
"This election process has gotten ugly, it's gotten nasty in certain areas," said Bruce. "As always, I am doing what I believe is the right thing, I"m standing on my integrity and my honor.
At his turn to speak, candidate Ricky Bishop said, "I would like to get away from that and move on to some other agendas you know like patrol being more proactive some issues at the jail, warrant division."
Cesarez added, "Integrity is the first thing that we must protect and any time there's a question about integrity particularly with something as easy as a drug test. It affects the very fiber of the institution, there is distrust lost between the public and everywhere you go people want to know."
Les Bruce called some of the allegations for him not taking the test- mere banter and said that lies were being spread about him-
Cesarez rebutted that saying it was more about transparency than anything else- he also focused on saying changes were needed.
When asked about why he decided to change over to the republican party Cesarez answered that it was a part of his point of making needed changes and that the party went more in line with his beliefs.
Bishop seemed the most conserved in his answers- wanting to simply move on from the drug test debate and talk about his points.
In the end as much as they tried- the drug test debate continued- but each made their points about what they had to offer- their various experience- ranging from serving in the military to volunteering as a firefighter.
It hasn't been confirmed whether or night tonight was the final forum for the three candidates.
Early voting has already begun for the race- final votes will be cast on May 29.
