Constable Stewart "I have been honored to serve the people of Henderson County Precinct 4," Constable Stewart said. During his term as Constable, Stewart served 100 percent of the civil process that has come to him from Justice of the Peace Courts of Henderson County as well as the civil process that he has received from outside the county. Stewart also served the forty-four civil processes from 2002, 2003, and 2004 that were on his desk when he took office January 1, 2005.

In 2004 the total expenditures for the Constable's Office were $50,766. In 2005, Constable Stewart's first year as Constable, the total expenditures were $41,678. This was a savings to taxpayers of $9,088. Constable Stewart will continue to use the taxpayers ' money wisely while serving the citizens of Precinct 4.

The Constable's position is a full-time job. Aside from serving civil process, Constable Stewart provides security for LaPoynor School events. He has transported and supervised Henderson County Jail Inmates to work at LaPoynor Schools, saving tax dollars for the citizens of Henderson County.

When Constables transported mental clients in Henderson County, Stewart transported 183 patients. Constables in Henderson County no longer transport mental clients. The Henderson County Sheriff's Department transports the patients in unmarked vehicles, wearing civilian clothing, and work as a male-female team to comply with Texas rules and regulations concerning the transportation of these patients.

Constable Stewart utilizes one unpaid deputy, James "Buzz" Sides who has assisted him in carrying out the duties of Henderson County Constable Precinct 4. With the help of Deputy Sides and other police officers in the area, Stewart has escorted over 200 funerals for the citizens of Precinct 4.

Constable Stewart and Deputy Sides have patrolled Precinct 4 on a daily basis, driving more than 60,000 miles during the last threeplus years. They have been readily available to the citizens of Precinct 4 as they were needed.

Following the devastating tornadoes that hit Poynor in December 2006, they worked from first light to after dark running chain saws to clear roads and yards that had been covered by downed trees. They also often prepared part of the food served to those who were helping with the clean-up project.

Constable Stewart has thirty-eight years of law enforcement experience. He graduated from the Texas Department of Public Safety training academy as a trooper trainee in 1970. He was assigned to Harris County as a Highway Patrol Trooper where he patrolled interstate and rural roadways enforcing traffic laws for the State of Texas. In September 1971, Stewart was promoted to the position of Criminal Investigator with Texas Department of Public Safety's narcotics service. He served in this position in both Harris and Smith counties and was also selected for duty to serve on a narcotics border task force in the Rio Grande Valley and was stationed in McAllen, Texas.

Constable Stewart was promoted to lieutenant in the DPS criminal law enforcement division and was transferred to Laredo, Texas for a brief time before moving to the Austin District office for two years. He then moved his family to Bryan, Texas where he established a Narcotics Area office for DPS. He coordinated narcotics investigations and enforcement over a nine-county area including Henderson County. His duties included the supervision of DPS narcotics investigators in the planning of investigative procedures to develop sources of information to aid in the effort to detect and apprehend narcotics violators. He developed relationships with both local and federal level law enforcement agencies in a combined effort to eradicate illegal manufacturing and distribution of narcotics. In addition, he arranged for technical assistance, secured warrants, reviewed investigator's case preparation and verified the accuracy of the reports.

Constable Stewart provided team leadership while working investigations, testified in court concerning methods of investigations and evidence secured and supervised office personnel. He also assumed responsibility for operation of the assigned area in the absence of the district Captain.

Upon retirement from DPS in 1998, Constable Stewart joined the Anderson County Sheriff's Department as the Commander of the Dogwood Trails Narcotics Task Force. His duties included supervising officers in the investigations and enforcement of nar- cotics violators in Anderson and Cherokee Counties. He also was responsible for writing grants, maintaining the budget and maintaining the fleet and equipment inventory for the Task Force.

Constable Stewart resigned from Anderson County in 2002 and joined the City of Frankston Police Department, where he served as a patrolling officer and was promoted to Chief of Police. Constable Stewart was honored by the City of Frankston as their officer of the year for 2002. The Lake Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce named Stewart as Law Enforcement Person of the Year at their annual banquet in January 2004. Constable Stewart resigned his position as Chief of Police when he took office in January 2005, and has proudly served the people of Henderson County since.

Constable Stewart and his wife of 31 years, Nancy, now reside on Lake Palestine in Coffee City and are members of First Baptist Church in Frankston. She is employed by Tyler Junior College as an instructor in the dental hygiene department. They have three children: Pennye McFerrin of Bryan, Summer Stewart of Coffee City; and Rick Stewart, Jr. and his wife JoAnna of Brownsboro, as well as three grandchildren in Brownsboro.

Constable Stewart along with Deputy Sides have served the people of Henderson County Precinct 4 with integrity and professionalism during this first fouryear term. They hope for the privilege of serving these same citizens another four years with your vote on November 4, 2008.