Democrat Ed Gonzalez is running for his third term to serve as Harris County Sheriff.
Commitment to Public Safety
Prior to his position as Harris County Sheriff, Gonzalez obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston and a Master’s from the University of St. Thomas. Further enhancing his qualifications, he served as a peace officer for nearly twenty years; he also held a position on the Houston City Council for six years, serving as the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee chairman.
It was his first year in office when Hurricane Harvey hit; Gonzalez fearlessly led over 5,000 law enforcement employees to ensure ample disaster response. In addition to coordinating relief logistics, he personally assisted in numerous water rescues of stranded Houstonians.
Proving his competence and dedication during his early days as County Sheriff, he quickly amassed the support of Harris County’s citizens, allowing him to be reelected for his second term in 2020.
In 2020, when disaster struck once more, Sheriff Gonzalez responded to the incoming threat of COVID-19 with no hesitation. When COVID first entered the country, hefty misinformation and panic spread. Still, Gonzalez took proper measures to prevent outbreaks in the Harris County Jail, which was holding over 9,000 inmates at the time.
Moving Harris County Forward
Apart from Sheriff Gonzalez’s impressive demonstrations of keen response, he has also ignited progressive discourse regarding the Harris County Correctional System. He advocates for proper treatment and care of issues of substance abuse, mental illness, developmental disabilities, and homelessness.
To address his priorities, he has implemented mental health screenings for people who have been detained; this way, it may be determined whether or not they are eligible for diversionary programs such as rehab. Further, Gonzalez has expanded education and rehabilitation resources for those incarcerated in Harris County and expanded the agency’s homelessness outreach programs.
He believes that jail should be designated for individuals who pose a genuine threat to the public, not whether or not they may be able to afford the cash bail.
His innovative efforts have allowed Harris County to rid itself of its negative reputation of being an inherently dangerous place to live. Under the leadership of Ed Gonzalez, Harris County will not remain stagnant, unlike other Republican-led regions.
Sheriff Gonzalez spends his days identifying and establishing crucial mechanisms for improving public safety for the lives of Harris County Citizens.
See Ed Gonzalez’s name on the primary ballots in March, and read more about him and his campaign here.