Tommy Thomas (i) - Republican Speaks: TAYLOR: How important is good leadership during times of crisis? SHERIFF THOMAS: Good leadership during times of crisis is especially important because the qualities good leaders possess give others confidence, provide direction and ease concerns related to the crisis. Good leaders possess many important qualities: a.) Honesty and integrity. b.) The ability to inspire others. c.) A vision for the future and the know-how to get the job done. d.) Qualifications and experience. e.) Good communication and organizational skills. f.) Ability to delegate. TAYLOR: Do you consider yourself to be a leader? If so, in what way? SHERIFF THOMAS: Yes, I consider myself to be a leader. Good leaders must be prepared for any contingency. Law enforcement provides many opportunities to exhibit good leadership. I have been in law enforcement for almost 40 years, more than 20 of which have been in key leadership positions. The Harris County Sheriff's Office exemplifies the best in community policing - programs that have been initiated under my leadership. • A Sex Offender Registration and Tracking Unit to make sure our children are safe from predators • Community store fronts in the neighborhoods • More patrolmen on the streets • Citizens Police Academies • Rape Aggression Defense classes to help protect innocent women from violent crimes This year, the HCSO received the prestigious “Flagship Agency” designation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). TAYLOR: Other than yourself, who is the most effective leader you know alive today? SHERIFF THOMAS: Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom TAYLOR: Why should Harris County area voters choose you on Tuesday, November 4? SHERIFF THOMAS: Leading the third largest Sheriff's Office in the nation with a $360 million annual budget requires an experienced law enforcement executive. I am a master peace officer with 40 years of law enforcement experience - 20 years of which have been in key management positions. I am the first sheriff in modern history to serve in every position in the Sheriff's Office. Under my leadership, the Sheriff's Office has evolve into one of the most prestigious and state of the art law enforcement agencies in the nation. |
Adrian Garcia - Democrat Speaks: TAYLOR: How important is good leadership during times of crisis? GARCIA: Good leadership is always critical not just during a crisis. However, the public and employees need to know that they have someone they can follow when they most need direction. Leadership should be visible and engaged, making the most difficult decisions. I saw this in Mayor Bill White during and after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike. Effective leadership makes citizens feel protected before, during and after a critical incident. An effective leader needs to be respected and supported, and I am honored that the three main employee groups of the Sheriff's Office have endorsed my candidacy and NOT their boss. TAYLOR: Do you consider yourself to be a leader? If so, in what way? GARCIA: Although I do hold a leadership position it is others who identify me as a leader. As such, I work to adhere to principles of good leadership such as: strength, ability to make decisions, ability to listen, ability to be fair, never asking someone to do something that I would not do myself, having a vision, and willingness to ask for brutal honesty from others about how I can improve myself. In addition, I also try to study those leaders I most admire to learn from their strongest traits. TAYLOR: Other than yourself, who is the most effective leader you know alive today? GARCIA: My father will always be my leader even though I lost him during my first year in office. Presently, I do admire several persons for different reasons. However, the two who are tied for “most effective leader” are Reverend Bill Lawson and Mayor Bill White. Reverend Lawson for how he brought a city together after the tragic death of Houston Police Officer Rodney Johnson and Mayor White for his effectiveness during and after Houston's most challenging natural disasters, and for his sound fiscal policies. TAYLOR: Why should Harris County-area voters choose you on Tuesday, November 4th? GARCIA: 23 years as a Houston Police Officer, three terms on Houston's City Council chairing the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee working alongside the Police and Fire Chiefs and their combined budgets of nearly $1billion of taxpayer's dollars. In addition, this year Mayor White chose me as Mayor Pro Tempore to help govern the fourth largest city in America. I also received major endorsements from the main employee groups of the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the Houston Chronicle, and the Houston Fire Fighter's Union, all of which makes me the clear choice to protect the largest county in Texas. |
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