Former Sheriff Tomas S. Herrera registers as a candidate for Maverick County Sheriff

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015

Former Maverick County Sheriff Tomas S. Herrera registered as a candidate for Maverick County Sheriff with the Democratic Party on Saturday, November 14, 2015, at San Juan Plaza in Eagle Pass, Texas with his wife, Malena Parra Herrera, family, friends, and supporters in attendance.

Herrera previously served as Maverick County Sheriff during 2005-2012 until he was unseated by then challenger and now Sheriff Tom Schmerber in a hotly contested primary election contest in March 2012.  Herrera’s registration as a candidate for Sheriff raises a re-match of the last Sheriff primary election almost four years ago between Herrera and Schmerber.  There is a possibility that one or more candidates may register for Sheriff before the December 14, 2015 candidate registration period ends.

Herrera has over 36 years experience in law enforcement including serving as a Maverick County Justice of the Peace during 1974-1976, 16 years as Chief Deputy under former Sheriff Tom Bowles, Deputy Constable and Constable, City of Eagle Pass Municipal Court Judge during 1995-1997, and as Sheriff during 2005-2012.

While Sheriff of Maverick County, Herrera served as Chairman of the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition in 2007, Governor Rick Perry appointed him to the State Border Security Council, a Board of Director of the Southwest Border Sheriff Coalition, appointed to the Texas Jail Commission Committee and Texas Jail Advisory Committee, and appointed to the National Sheriff Association’s Immigration & Border Security Committee.  Herrera remains active as a member of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas.

Herrera will seek the Democratic Party nomination for Maverick County Sheriff at the March 1, 2016 Primary Election and later at the November 1, 2016 Texas General Election.  Early voting period starts on February 16, 2016 through February 26, 2016.

Candidate registrations continue until December 14, 2015 with Democratic Party President Victor E. Perry and Republican Party President Lowell McManus.