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Burnett Seeks
Second Term.
November 17,2003. (Press
Release Courtesy Free State Communications)
CANTON---Van Zandt County
Sheriff R. P. “Pat” Burnett, Jr., (D-Edgewood) announced Tuesday that
he will seek a second term as Sheriff of Van Zandt County.
In announcing his candidacy,
Burnett said he wants to continue to lead the Van Zandt County
Sheriff’s Office in a positive, professional, and fiscally
conservative manner while building on the foundation he has laid over
the last three years.
“Since taking office, it has
been my privilege to serve the people of Van Zandt County as your
Sheriff. As I seek another term, I pledge that I will continue to
provide the leadership necessary to operate the Sheriff’s Office in a
conservative, cost-effective manner,” Burnett said.
“We have been blessed in our
endeavors to build a firm foundation for the Van Zandt County
Sheriff’s Office. When I was sworn in on November 16, 2000, it was the
eighth swearing-in ceremony in a span of eight years for the Sheriff’s
Office. In the last three years, we have worked hard to restore
stability to the department and done our best to restore the people’s
confidence in this office,” he continued.
During Burnett’s tenure as
Sheriff, he has worked diligently to conserve tax dollars through
streamlining operations at the Van Zandt County Justice Center all
while making sure the citizens of the county receive the best possible
protection.
Among changes during Burnett’s
administration include restructuring the department to facilitate more
efficient use of patrol deputies to protect citizens and better
utilization of the department’s command structure to ensure sound
management.
In addition, Burnett said he
has worked hard to get jail spending under control, and cites
significant reductions in the average amount spent on inmates per day
for food and medical care.
When Burnett took office, the
county was spending an average of $3.04 per day to feed inmates and an
average of $3.29 per day on inmate medical care. Under Burnett’s
tenure, the average amount spent on inmate food per day has dropped to
an average of $1.76 per day, while inmate medical expenses have
dropped to an average of $1.05 per day.
To help reduce these expenses
and save taxpayer dollars, Burnett led the charge to hire a full-time
nurse to staff the Van Zandt County Justice Center, and began a
program under which jail trustys plant and tend a garden to provide
food for inmates.
“These programs have saved the
taxpayers of Van Zandt County a significant amount,” Burnett said.
Among other accomplishments
Burnett cites under his tenure include expansion of the trusty
program.
“Through expansion of the
trusty program, the county and local governments and non-profit
organizations in the county such as the Van Zandt County Fair and the
CPS Rainbow Room-as well as the county itself-have saved thousands of
dollars by being able to utilize inmate labor,” Burnett noted.
Burnett also noted that,
during his tenure, a citizen committee made up of individuals from
throughout Van Zandt County conducted a staffing study of the
Sheriff’s Office to help the department evaluate its needs for he
future.
“Citizen involvement in the
Sheriff’s Office is a cornerstone of ourdoor policy. It is
something I campaigned on in 2000, and something I plan to continue
during my next term,” he said.
During his second term,
Burnett also said he plans to take steps to get more deputies on the
streets, as calls for service to the department have more than doubled
during his tenure in office.
“Van Zandt County is growing
and with that growth, comes the need for continued change within the
Sheriff’s Office to accommodate that growth. I believe that, under my
leadership, the citizens of Van Zandt County will be better protected
and better served than they were when I took office three years ago,”
he concluded.
Burnett was elected Sheriff of
Van Zandt County in November, 2000. He was sworn in on November 16,
2000. Prior to his tenure with the county, he served the Terrell
Police Department from 1978 until 1999, when he retired as a sergeant.
He is a graduate of the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management
Institute, and holds Master Peace Officer Certification and Instructor
Certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards
and Education. While with the Terrell Police Department, he received
numerous awards and commendations.
Burnett is a native of Wills
Point and a resident of Edgewood. He is a member of First Baptist
Church of Edgewood. He is the son of Raymond and Betty Burnett. He has
one daughter, Taylor, a student at Texas A&M University-College
Station.
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Van Zandt County Democratic Party &
VZC Democratic Women
