Republican candidate Jimmy Fullen, who risks losing his law enforcement license, won the Galveston’s sheriff’s race on Tuesday. Fullen, a former Galveston County constable, defeated Democratic candidate Mark Salinas with nearly 62 percent of the vote.
In June, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement recommended revoking Fullen’s peace officer license for failing to disclose information on his application. Fullen did not report past accusations of discrimination, being fired or asked to resign by a past employer, and two arrests as a teenager. Fullen did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
A hearing for the final decision in the case will be held in January.
Fullen faced some scrutiny for his past, but won a party primary in March with 57 percent of the vote. Local party heavyweights, including billionaire and Rockets owner Tilman Feritta, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and lawyer Tony Buzbee, threw their money behind Fullen.
As constable, Fullen participated in the governor’s $11 billion border security initiative Operation Lone Star, which funds local law enforcement to increase migrant apprehensions and smuggling arrests. He has traveled to the border more than 20 times, his campaign page states. Galveston County has received nearly $4.1 million in state funding for the initiative, which was mostly spent on covering the salaries and paying overtime to employees.
Fullen promises to continue sending Galveston deputies to the border through the initiative, according to his campaign website.
He will replace Sheriff Henry Trochesset, who will retire after more than a decade as sheriff and four decades in Galveston law enforcement.
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