Nueces County Commissioners will select the new Sheriff in open session. They previously said they would select that person in closed session. @callerdotcom
The interview process will start any minute now.
All five applicants have stepped outside. One person will be interviewed at a time, while the other four are out of the room. @callerdotcom
John Chris Hooper is up first. 
Lt. Hooper is a public information officer at the Corpus Christi Police Department. He has worked under 8 police chiefs, he said.
Hooper said he would work on the brand for the Sheriff’s Office to recruit and retain jailers and employees.
Hooper says part of the Sheriff’s job is to constantly engage with the residents of the county and sheriffs office employees.
Hooper said he wants to be sheriff to get out of his comfort zone and grow as a public servant for the community.
Scott Mandel is up next.
Mandel said if he’s appointed he will not seek re-election.
Mandel said he owns a security business that manages detention centered for ICE around the country.
Mandel said he would reach out to the community and colleges to retain employees at the Nueces County Jail.
Mandel told Commissioner Carolyn Vaughn he is not familiar with 287G or the Sheriff’s Office budget. He said he has worked with budgets before.
Mandel said he wants to be sheriff because he started his career with the county, and he would love to end his career with the county.
Mandel said he would work to fix the problems in the jail and meet with staff.
Mandel said he would start with talking to the staff to pinpoint the problems and find possible solutions at the jail, which is often near capacity.
Mandel said he would fill vacancies at the jail and in the sheriff’s office by hosting job fairs and reaching out to the community and colleges in the area.
Mandel said he would love the challenge of being sheriff and wants to serve his community.
County Judge Loyd Neal called for a 10 minute break.
Daniel Perez, Assistant Chief Deputy,is on next.
Perez said he has 23 years of experience inside the jail and five years in administration.
Perez said he has been involved with the Sheriff’s Office budget as a Capt. In the jail and as assistant Chief of operations.
Perez said he if he is appointed sheriff he would strongly consider running for re-election.
Perez said retaining staff is at the top of his priority list.
Perez said he would work to make sure jailers have enough training.
Perez said he wants to be sheriff to continue to make a difference.
Perez said he would enforce 287G.
Monica Rios is up next. She is a Capt. In the Nueces County Sheriff’s office.
Rios worked for 10 years in adult probation before coming to the sheriff’s office. She is the capt of he training division.
Rios said she will work to have follow ups after mandated training courses.
Rios said she plans to run for re-election if appointed sheriff. She also said she wants to pick up where Sheriff Jim Kaelin left off.
Rios said she would reach out to Harris County and other big county jails to look for ideas to implement at the Nueces County Jail.
Rios said she would find incentives to keep jailers. She said days off and vacation time could help keep employees.
Rios said the sheriff’s office jail training is 3 weeks. She wants to have more training and follow ups after the 3 weeks.
Rios said she was born and raised in Corpus Christi. She says she has no plans of leaving.
Rios said she would enforce 287G in the jail. But she doesn’t believe patrol officers should be out looking specifically for undocumented immigrants.
Another 10 minute break before the last applicant Larry Young is up.
Larry Young is up in a few moments.
Young says he’s been in law enforcement almost 39 years.
Young said he previously worked with the Department of Family and Potective Services.
Young was previously with the Corpus Christi police department. He says 287G is the law, and you must enforce it.
Young said he’s not sure if he would run for re-election if he’s appointed.
Young said he would focus on wages, recruitment, retention and the image of the sheriff’s office.
Young said he has participated in collective bargaining as union president of the Corpus Christi Police Officers Association. He thinks it’s a good thing for the department, officers and the community.
Young said he has also worked as an investigator in Houston.
Young said exit interviews and questionnaires are essential to keeping employees. He said it’s one way to act on what’s going on in the sheriff’s office.
The interviews are over. Young is walking out of the room. Commissioners will now discuss the applicants.
Commissioner John Marez makes a motion to appoint someone next week.
Marez said the interviews were a lot of information to take in. He said he’s not sure how to hash this out publicly.
County Judge Loyd Neal said they voted last meeting to conduct interviews and select a sheriff today. He said he wouldn’t vote for a motion to delay the selection and said he’s ready to vote now.
Commissioner Carolyn Vaughn said she thinks the court needs to vote today.
Commissioner Brent Chesney said “we told the world we were going to do this today.”
Motion to delay the appointed 72 hours failed 3-2.
Commissioners will select today.
The floor is open for public open.
Corpus Christi District 3 city council candidate Margareta Fratila makes public comment about the applicants for sheriff. She says they’re all good applicants.
Vaughn said there a big shoes to fill for sheriff.
Vaughn said she supports John Chris Hooper. She makes a motion to appoint him
Scott Mandel was nominated by Commissioner Joe A. Gonzalez
Marez nominates Larry Young
Brent Chesney votes for hooper
#BREAKING: Hooper was selected as sheriff
