VOICE OF THE AUSTIN MAJORITY
The Blog Speaks:
FOR TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF
WHY WE ENDORSE GREG HAMILTON:
Democrat Greg Hamilton,
a former TCSO officer who
worked in both corrections and law enforcement before going to the
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission as chief of statewide law enforcement operations,
said he would scour the office's $87 million budget in search of savings.
"We need to evaluate the effectiveness of various programs and the placement of officers" to ensure that resources are maximized, Hamilton said – adding that he favors "splitting the corrections and law enforcement budgets" to further assess and then best allocate the available funds.
Prior to entering the 2004 Sheriff's race, Hamilton served as the Chief of Enforcement for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) for the previous 10 years. His scope of supervision covered 55 offices and approximately 300 employees located throughout the State of Texas.
While leading the TABC, Hamilton actively reached out to organizations from a variety of disciplines to address the issue of underage alcohol use. In addition, he served as the President for the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association, and a Board member for the Texans Standing Tall “Underage Drinking Coalition”. Hamilton held an appointment to the Governor’s D.W.I. Task Force Advisory Board organized by former Governor George W. Bush and currently serves on the Drug Demand Reduction Advisory Committee (DDRAC). He served on the Region XIII Education Advisory Committee, and served on the MADD National College Commission Advisory Board to prevent underage drinking. Hamilton serves as a national trainer and speaker for the Office of Juvenile Justice and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. During the course of his work at TABC, he also founded the Texas Coalition on the Illegal Use of Alcohol.
Under Hamilton's leadership, the TABC has received the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association “Law Enforcement Agency of the Year” award in 1996 and most recently in 2003. Further, Project SAVE, an educational program Hamilton formed, was voted “Most Innovative Program” in 1997 by the N.L.L.E.A.
Hamilton has also received the Texans’ War on Drugs Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, the N.A.A.C.P. Law Enforcement Leadership Award, the National Black Public Administrator’s Award and the Mentor of the Year Award from the Boy’s and Girls Club of El Paso.
From 1984-1994, Hamilton served as Deputy Sheriff at the Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO), where he held positions as Patrol Officer, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Officer, Mounted Patrol, and Correctional Officer II. While at the TCSO, he served as a board member of the Travis County Sheriff’s Office Employee Association, helped incorporate Deputies Against Delinquent Youth (DADY), member of the honor guard, and co-founded the Travis County Sheriff’s Office Choir.
Hamilton received his B.A. in Criminal Justice from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. While he attended SWTSU, he played quarterback on the football team, where he started as a freshman. Most recently Hamilton graduated from the Governor’s Executive Development Program at the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs.
Hamilton's professional associations include Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, Masonic Lodge, Texas Police Chief Association and the Texas Sheriff’s Association. He also holds the position of Vice President on the Montopolis Recreational Center Advisory Board.
Hamilton has won an award from the NAACP.
We feel he is the best choice and deserves the job.
