KAUFMAN, Texas – The Kaufman County Commissioners' Court appointed Jason "JJ" Johnson as Constable for Kaufman County Precinct 2 at a special meeting on Tuesday morning, April 29, 2014, at the Kaufman County Courthouse. The appointment comes after former Constable Joe Don Law resigned earlier this month amid tampering charges.
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Johnson, who was officially sworn-in to office on the morning of April 30, 2014 by Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood, will serve as Kaufman County Precinct 2 Constable until January 1, 2015, according to county officials. An election will be held in November according to Texas Election Code, stated Kaufman County Republican Party Chair Jimmy Weaver.
According to Weaver, the executive committees from the Republican Party and the Democratic Party will nominate candidates for the November election. Weaver told the commissioners their appointment decision on Tuesday morning would "have no bearing" on their committee's decision for the November election.
Johnson, a sergeant with the Dallas County Constable's Office Precinct 4, ran against Constable Law for Kaufman County Precinct 2 Constable in 2012. Law won that election 66 percent to 34 percent.
"I want to thank everyone for their confidence in me," Johnson told inForney.com following his appointment. "I also appreciate the other candidates for the position for showing up. I believe we all had something unique we brought to the table. I look forward to making my community proud and restoring the integrity to the constable's office. My door will always be open." Johnson's family and Dallas County Precinct 4 Constable Roy Williams Jr. attended the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday morning.
Former Constable Joe Don Law resigned on the morning of April 11, 2014, and faced a state jail felony of tampering with a governmental record. Law is set to appear before Kaufman County Court at Law Judge Dennis Jones for a jury trial on May 5, 2014.
Law was indicted on the tampering charge in August 2013 and surrendered his law license to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement on April 1, 2014. With the surrender of his license, Law stated, "I have admitted in a sworn statement to the Kaufman County District Attorney that I did commit the offense as alleged in that cause number by falsifying my required TLETS online certification materials."
According to Weaver, the executive committees from the Republican Party and the Democratic Party will nominate candidates for the November election. Weaver told the commissioners their appointment decision on Tuesday morning would "have no bearing" on their committee's decision for the November election.
Johnson, a sergeant with the Dallas County Constable's Office Precinct 4, ran against Constable Law for Kaufman County Precinct 2 Constable in 2012. Law won that election 66 percent to 34 percent.
"I want to thank everyone for their confidence in me," Johnson told inForney.com following his appointment. "I also appreciate the other candidates for the position for showing up. I believe we all had something unique we brought to the table. I look forward to making my community proud and restoring the integrity to the constable's office. My door will always be open." Johnson's family and Dallas County Precinct 4 Constable Roy Williams Jr. attended the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday morning.
Former Constable Joe Don Law resigned on the morning of April 11, 2014, and faced a state jail felony of tampering with a governmental record. Law is set to appear before Kaufman County Court at Law Judge Dennis Jones for a jury trial on May 5, 2014.
Law was indicted on the tampering charge in August 2013 and surrendered his law license to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement on April 1, 2014. With the surrender of his license, Law stated, "I have admitted in a sworn statement to the Kaufman County District Attorney that I did commit the offense as alleged in that cause number by falsifying my required TLETS online certification materials."