Lee to enter sheriff’s race
Trinity Standard , October 2007

GROVETON -- Retired Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission supervisor Brent Lee of Groveton has announced he will be seeking the post of Trinity County sheriff in the March 4 Democratic Party Primary.
Lee, a Groveton native, became the first candidate to formally announced his candidacy for the post now held by Sheriff Steven Jones.
Jones was appointed to the sheriff’s post on April 27 following the resignation of former Sheriff Jimmy Smith.
The both the Democratic and Republic party primary election are scheduled for March 4 and those seeking to be listed on the ballots may file starting on Dec. 3.
Lee is the son of C.M. “Dick” and Dovie Lee and is a 1969 graduate of Groveton High School. While in high school he met and later married Elizabeth Ann Avery and together the couple has three children -- Lisa, Patricia and Steven -- and six grandchildren.
The candidate is a state licensed peace officer with over 35 years of experience in law enforcement.
“I am a certified Master Peace Officer by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE), making me the candidate with the education and experience the job of sheriff requires,” he said.
Lee began his career with the Texas Department of Corrections (now the Texas Department of Criminal Justice) where he worked as a corrections officer for 11 months.
He then joined the Livingston Police Department for over a year before joining the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) on April 2, 1972. He was assigned to the Beaumont District’s law enforcement division and rose to the position of supervisor.
“I managed agents handling law enforcement activities in the 16-county district as a supervisor for 20 years and retired from the state in 2003,” he said.
In retirement, Lee serves as a reserve deputy.
“I demand an honest, professional and positive approach to law enforcement where everyone is treated with respect and fairness,” he said.
He added he wants to make sure calls for service are attended to promptly and that every call is answered. He also wants to create work schedules that meet the needs of the taxpayers which also get the job done efficiently.
“I will launch a proactive fight against crime in our county, especially drug violations, be coordinating local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. This approach will get officers in our communities and schools where taxpayers will have easy access to them,” he said.
“I will study and evaluate every aspect of the department and present a budget to the commissioners court that will meet the needs of the department without being a burden on the taxpayers.
“In a further effort to ease that burden, I will apply for state and federal grants for available money for law enforcement,” Lee said.
“I look forward to visiting with everyone in the coming months. With your help we can make the Trinity County Sheriff’s Department a department that can make everyone proud,” he added.