Travis GOP Constable candidate endorsed by Democrat Sheriff

This may come as no surprise to those who have heard about the alleged misdeeds of the incumbent Travis County Precinct 2 Constable.

Republican candidate Deke Pierce was just endorsed by Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton, a Democrat, and Bastrop County Sheriff Terry Pickering, a Republican.

Let that sink in for a minute ...


In a county where the Democrats have a lock on the law enforcement and legal communities, the county's top cop put aside partisan loyalties to focus on professional qualifications. Given, both Hamilton and Pickering are not seeking re-election this year, it is nonetheless commendable, regardless of which side of the aisle you're on.

The incumbent, Adan Ballesteros, took office after a three-way general election race in 2012 (Democrat Ballesteros won 48.26%, Republican Toby Miller garnered 44.52%, and Libertarian Roy Camacho took 7.22%). Although Ballesteros was the target of a well-funded Libertarian-leaning super PAC that election year which labeled him as "the cocaine constable," ironically it was the siphoning away of votes by Libertarian Camacho that ultimately doomed Miller's candidacy -- in addition to a hard-fought Republican Primary which drained bank accounts and retaliatory fire by Ballesteros-friendly PACs. In other words, the 2012 race was a lot more political than a Constable election usually becomes.

But this year, voters have a chance to put aside partisan attacks, super PAC money influence, and negative campaigning. Like Sheriffs Hamilton and Pickering, voters may select a candidate based on on qualification and character.

A little about Deke: He's a 24-year law enforcement veteran who  holds a Master Peace Officers License and worked as a Communications, Navigation and Penetrations Aids Systems Specialist on the F-16 Fighting Falcon for the U.S. Air Force. He has been working with the Travis County Sheriff's department since 1995. He's a family man and an outspoken Christian.

Pierce and Ballesteros will appear together on the Nov. 1, 2016, general election ballot. Pierce will be unopposed on the March 1, 2016, Republican Primary ballot, as will Ballesteros on the Democratic ticket.

MORE INFO:

Constable Precinct 2 consists of the following northern Travis County voting precincts (see map): 104, 109, 110, 111, 123, 136, 137, 145, 146, 148, 150, 160, 161, 163, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 215, 216, 218, 219, 222, 225, 228, 229, 232, 244, 245, 246, 247, 249, 253, 254, 258, 259, 260, 262, 263, 267, 268, 305, 306, 312, 319, 320, 321, 323, 326, 327, 328, 331, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 343, 345, 359, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, and 375. This is the same jurisdiction as our Justice of the Peace precincts, as the Constable serves as an officer of those courts. To find your voting precinct and JP precinct, see your voter registration card or visit http://www.votexas.org.