Incumbent Justice of the Peace Garland Potvin will face former Killeen City Councilwoman Claudia Brown for the Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 1, position in Bell County.
Precinct 4 covers the western portion of Bell County, to include the city of Killeen.
Potvin, a Killeen native, has served as a Justice of the Peace for 21 years, served with the Texas Department of Public Safety for 25 years and is a U.S. Army veteran. His priorities for the office are to adhere and carry out the duties of the position according to law; to provide respect, courtesy and justice all who come before him; and to uphold the moral integrity and ethical standard of the office.
“The Justice of the Peace Court is governed by rules, regulations and laws that have been established by legislation and cannot be changed at one’s own will. A candidate might make promises that cannot be kept if they do not know the legislation and how it affects the court system,” he said. “The Justice of the Peace must follow all rules established without regard to personal beliefs or opinions. There can be no ‘issues’ in the election race for Justice of the Peace because rulings must be made within the jurisdiction of the office and the letter of the law must be followed.”
Brown holds a master’s degree in planning and administration and a doctorate in interdisciplinary arts and sciences with a specialty in urban education. She retired as a public school principal and completed 10 years of experience as a welfare, housing, medical and psychiatric social worker, served on the Killeen City Council and worked on a committee to help offending juveniles earn their monetary penalty by producing a vegetable garden.
She also served in law enforcement as a commissioner, working with the FBI, ATF, state troopers and local police forces.
“Given the current climate of crime, poverty, joblessness, insecurity and unrest in our community, my background eminently prepared me to help confront the injustice that is plaguing our current broken justice system,” she said. “Our system is broken whenever a citizen is charged and incarcerated, 1, without trial for unfair lengths of time; 2, with a mental disability; or 3, at unreasonable costs to taxpayers. I believe in being a part of the change that is needed.”
dbryant@kdhnews.com | 254-501-7554
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