ORANGE COUNTY, Texas — Election day is right around the corner and 12News is highlighting the race for Orange County Sheriff.
Incumbent Jimmy Lane Mooney is fighting to keep his seat against candidates Bobby Smith, Ronald Dischler and Mike Sanchez.
All four candidates do have something in common, which is law enforcement experience.
Mooney is fighting against three challengers to keep his position. He says that he has a vested interest in the county, being born and raised there.
"The thing about me, I'm the only candidate that is bred, born and raised right here in Orange County, Texas. I have a vested interest here. My family goes to church here. I mean we've been to school here. We've been here for many many years," said Mooney.
Smith is entering the political realm for the first time, touting 29 years of law enforcement experience.
"I would like to provide more of a unity with the law enforcement in Orange County. I'd like to make Orange County premier law enforcement agency by getting people to want to stay here to get people to have a vested interest in Orange County that they want to retire from here," Smith said.
Dischler, a Beaumont Police Lieutenant, tells 12News his focus would be combating criminal organizations.
"I would like to set up some narcotic interdiction units to start interdicting a lot of these drugs and a lot of this money that's going to these drug dealers, because that's the best way we can affect them by hitting them in their pocketbook," he said.
Bringing mental health advocacy and safety to the table is Vidor Independent School District Police Chief Sanchez.
The winner of this race will likely run unopposed in the general November election.
Early voting ends today and primary elections are on Tuesday, March 5.