Joe Inocencio, Vergil Ratliff and Dana M. Wolfe will challenge incumbent Ed Gonzalez to represent Harris County residents as the Democratic candidate for Harris County sheriff in the upcoming March 5 primary election.
Gonzalez was elected as Harris County sheriff in 2016 and was re-elected to a second term in 2020, according to the sheriff office's website. The Harris County Sheriff's office is the largest sheriff's office in Texas and the third-largest in the nation with more than 5,000 employees.
Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.
Ed Gonzalez*
Joe Inocencio
Vergil Rochelle Ratliff
Dana M. Wolfe
Ed Gonzalez*
Experience: Houston police officer, 18 years; Houston City Council member, three terms; Harris County sheriff, two terms
Occupation: Harris County sheriff
Candidate Website: https://www.edgonzalez.com
Contact Information: 713-364-6306
Why did you choose to run in this election?
While there is a lot of work ahead of us, we’ve turned a corner on crime and are making real progress on issues of mental health and criminal justice reform. I want to continue this work and would be honored by the privilege of serving Harris County as sheriff.
What would be your top priorities if elected?
Keeping Harris County safe. Improving management and conditions in the jail. Requiring body cameras for all jail detention officers. Improving how we interact with and help those with mental health challenges. Proactively preparing and responding to disasters, including training more deputies in swift water rescues. Continuing to address reckless driving.
What do you think are the biggest issues facing Harris County residents?
In terms of safety, crime would be first—and I’m proud to report double-digit decreases in crime incidents. Other challenges include natural disasters, many driven by climate change; man made disasters, such as chemical plant explosions; and reckless driving, often as a result of road rage and alcohol and drugs.
If elected, how will you handle Harris County jails and taxpayer dollars when it comes to the conditions of inmates and the safety of officers?
We’re working hard every day to ensure the health and safety of our inmates, officers and staff. We recently partnered with our hospital district to provide health care and mental health care to people in jail, securing nearly $100 million in resources. Our jail is largest mental health hospital in Texas.
If elected, what steps would you take to ensure police brutality is not an issue in the Harris County sheriff’s office?
We are committed to the highest standards of law enforcement accountability. I have fired deputies for violating our policies, including use-of-force policy. I required body cameras for all uniformed deputies and am requiring body cameras for all detention officers in the jail—a first for any sheriff’s office in Texas.
Joe Inocencio
Experience: Harris County Sheriff’s Office, 1980-82; Houston Police Department, 1982-2014; District Attorney’s Office, 2017-20
Occupation: Retired Houston Police lieutenant
Candidate Website: https://www.inocencioforsheriff.com
Why did you choose to run in this election?
The Harris County Jail is managed like those in a Third World country. The “culture of death” and “expectation of violence” are the norms. There were a record 67 deaths in the last three years due to suicides, jailer/detainee homicidal beatings, medical malfeasance, neglect, etc. It is time for …
What would be your top priorities if elected?
1. Get the jail under compliance and change the violent culture and practices. 2. Through consensus/buy-in with the eight constables, change the way Harris County conducts everyday law enforcement business regarding your public safety. 3. Create a robust recruiting program for Harris County law enforcement for hiring the best recruits.
What do you think are the biggest issues facing Harris County residents?
Public safety is the number one priority. The duplication of service, confusion among citizens, wasted tax dollars, and the low solvability crime rates among the eight constable offices and the sheriff’s office is outdated and needs to be changed. We must work as a team and not individual competitive agencies.
If elected, how will you handle Harris County jails and taxpayer dollars when it comes to the conditions of inmates and the safety of officers?
We must reintroduce certified deputies back into the jail. The experiment having civilians with four weeks of training staffing the jail has failed miserably. The idea to save taxpayers’ dollars has ironically cost millions more due to lawsuits, overtime and outsourcing. The “culture of violence” is perpetrated by untrained civilians.
If elected, what steps would you take to ensure police brutality is not an issue in the Harris County sheriff’s office?
Recruitment, training, supervision and cultural changes are keys to reduce/eliminate police brutality. The culture change includes having deputies intervene during these episodes and report abuse. Anonymous communication avenues for deputies to report abuse to Internal Affairs is also a tool. And of course strict policies and procedures are a …
Vergil Rochelle Ratliff
Experience: Retired Houston officer; currently captain with state police; 15 years in law enforcement management
Occupation: Law enforcement
Candidate Website: https://www.ratliffforsheriff.com
Contact Information: 832-965-1748
Why did you choose to run in this election?
1. Mitigate crime, 2. Deter recidivism 3. Take back the care, custody and control of the Harris County Jail.
What would be your top priorities if elected?
1. Mitigate deaths in the jail. 2. Safety of detainees and Harris County employees. 3. Arrest violent offenders.
What do you think are the biggest issues facing Harris County residents?
Public safety has been defined as a major issue of concern to the Harris County residents. This includes violent offenders and traffic fatalities resulting from aggressive driving and road rage.
If elected, how will you handle Harris County jails and taxpayer dollars when it comes to the conditions of inmates and the safety of officers?
Staffing is one issue that must be resolved. More workers will provide more safety for the employees and the detainees inside the jail. Best practice protocols must be in place to ensure compliance with jail standards. I will be a strong advocate for those resources needed to ensure safer conditions ...
If elected, what steps would you take to ensure police brutality is not an issue in the Harris County sheriff’s office?
Training and oversight are the two most effective ways to mitigate brutality. Deputies will be trained in de-escalation and use of force on a continuous basis. Supervisors will have active oversight and will be held accountable for and to their subordinates.
Dana M. Wolfe
Experience: Candidate did not respond to questionnaire.
Occupation: Candidate did not respond to questionnaire.
Why did you choose to run in this election?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire.
What would be your top priorities if elected?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire.
What do you think are the biggest issues facing Harris County residents?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire.
If elected, how will you handle Harris County jails and taxpayer dollars when it comes to the conditions of inmates and the safety of officers?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire.
If elected, what steps would you take to ensure police brutality is not an issue in the Harris County sheriff’s office?
Candidate did not respond to questionnaire.
