Harris County Sheriff – Three people want to oust the incumbent

Edward Gonzalez – Website – Facebook – $143,882 – Houston Chronicle

Jose Inocencio – Website – Facebook – $0

Vergil Ratliff – Website – Facebook – $307

Dana Wolfe – Website – Facebook – No Campaign Report posted

Today, as I write this and based on what I have found about the candidates, I would have to flip a coin whether Ed Gonzalez or Vergil Ratliff received my vote. Mr. Inocencio is someone I would not take a chance on, as I believe that Kim Ogg is working with the Republicans.

Wolfe was not considered, as there seems to be no information about the person.

Jose Inocencio

I will admit that his website was interesting to read; after all, who doesn’t want to know about the “Culture of Death.”

It’s time to change “the culture of death”. The expectation of violence must cease.  My plan will involve using current Harris County stakeholders’ resources at minimal extra cost, if any.  As the elected Sheriff, I will take responsibility and develop innovative ideas and concrete plans to maintain a safe Jail environment.  It is the Sheriff’s responsibility, by law, to do so.  It’s time for real change. 

On paper Mr. Inocencio is very well qualified. I could be temped to vote for him, if he were to tell us his secrets on how exactly he would end that culture of death. Afterall if he does not win, wouldn’t he want to help stop all those deaths?

I have my doubts about anyone coming out of Kim Ogg’s office to challenge current Democratic officials.

Ed Gonzalez – Incumbent

I may spend an hour maybe two Googling for information about a person, things that publicly available to see what problems may arise if they are going to be the Democrats choice. I guarantee you that the Republicans will spend a ton of money doing the same and they will have access to data that I don’t.

Ed Gonzalez has been a good sheriff, and I have voted for him twice, in 2016 and 2020, but I don’t like him that much. If someone challenging him seems a better candidate, I will vote for them and encourage others to do likewise. The reason for my feelings is, as one of the candidates mentioned, there are too many people dying in jail.

I would certainly pick them over the incumbent.

For being in office for eight years, Sheriff Gonzalez should have more money to campaign. The Republicans will choose Mike Knox, a name already known to many Houstonians. I would hate to lose any county seat presently held by a Democrat to Republicans, especially if the candidate did not have enough money to campaign after being in office for eight years.

The other thing that came out when he was being considered to be appointed as head of Immigration, is the following;

Gonzalez’s confirmation vote to lead ICE was expected earlier this year but was halted after an affidavit surfaced detailing a domestic violence dispute between Gonzalez and his wife, Melissa Gonzalez, former president of Houston Community College-Southeast.

In the affidavit, a former Houston Community College police officer alleged that he had received word that Melissa Gonzalez, who was then the school’s vice chancellor of workforce and economic development, wanted to file a complaint against her husband because of “suggested violence she had experienced at her home at the hands of the sheriff.”

Both the sheriff and Melissa Gonzalez denied the allegations, and an investigation into the allegations by the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs obtained by the Houston Chronicle undermined the credibility of the claims. Source

Vergil Ratliff

Ms. Ratliff is certainly qualified. She ran for Constable Precinct 7, back some time ago. May Walker won that position and kept it until she decided to retire this year.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Vergil Ratliff recognizes the need to build stronger relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. As Harris County Sheriff, Ratliff will encourage community input by soliciting open communication with Harris County constituents.

SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
Having served for decades as a law enforcement official, Vergil Ratliff knows that our law enforcement officers, detention officers and civilian personnel work collaboratively everyday to keep our communities safe. As Harris County Sheriff, Ratliff will support all personnel by soliciting for the resources needed to do their jobs effectively and safely.

Dana Wolfe

Dana Wolfe no information found. I will assume it is a female, but not sure.

Since she has no photos posted I will assume the following is her, but I could be mistaken.

Chronicle – Pay information