Newman to challenge for election to county sheriff's post

Mitchel Newman

Mitchel Newman announced Dec. 4 he will run for the office of Jasper County Sheriff in the March election.

A 1971 graduate of Jasper High School, Newman is a U.S. Army veteran, past member of Local 450, operating engineers. Newman worked 12 years for Temple- Inland as a survey-party chief.

Newman is a graduate of the Angelina College Police Academy and has worked as a weight and license officer for Jasper County and as a Jasper County Sheriff's patrol officer. He is currently commissioned under the district attorney's office.

Newman has also worked security for Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital for six years and security for other businesses as a second income. He has maintained his certification with TECLEOSE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education).

"I pledge to be a full-time working sheriff with an open door policy, with no invisible barriers to keep someone from talking to me," Newman said. "Drugs are a primary cause of theft, burglaries and family violence. I plan to take an active approach to remove drugs from our streets and neighborhoods to keep our families safe."

Newman was raised in the Beech Grove community in Jasper, where his family has lived for six generations. He has been married to Debbie Newman for 36 years and has three children, Prissy Hollis, Willie (Bubba) Newman and Nella Moake, and five grandchildren. Newman's parents, Bill and Verna Newman, still live in Beech Grove.

"I have been blessed to have my parents, our children and our grand-children live within five miles of us," Newman said.

"I pledge to be everyone's sheriff, no matter what your financial status, the color of your skin or where you live in the county," Newman said. "I will work with other agencies in a responsible manner. Every call will be answered, returned, or investigated."