Carmen Cortez Carmen Cortez announces her candidacy for the Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 in the March 2010 primary. She believes her 30-year experience working with law enforcement and judicial systems will benefit the citizens of Kleberg County. She will serve as a full time Justice of the Peace.

“I believe the JP office should be a full time position with the Justice of the Peace available daily and during off hours to address the full spectrum of services when needed by the public,” she said. “I don’t believe we have the situation under control right now.”

Working as a full time Justice of the Peace, Cortez will have time to assist the citizens of Kleberg County and provide sufficient time to hear the cases.

She also believes she can make a difference in managing the office of the Justice of the Peace Precinct 2.

“For too long the JP office of Precinct 2 has been neglected and we need change now for the sake of professionalism, ethics and respect for the services of the people,” she stated.

Cortez believes in integrity, fairness and proper application of the law administering justice. She believes that the Justice of the Peace Courts of Kleberg County need to be innovative in working with the youth such as dealing with the truancy problems in the local schools.

“Nothing is going to improve unless a Justice of the Peace develops new systems to tackle old problems that seem to linger year in and year out,” she stated. “Too many times we deal with the problems by just lecturing the violators that they have done wrong and violated the law and treat business as usual.”

A lifetime resident of Kleberg County, she is familiar with the community and can help people with new and innovative programs that will solve problems versus the usual run of the mill methodology of just administering justice for the sake of going through the motions with insignificant results or change.

A 1978 H.M. King High School graduate, Cortez attended Texas A&I University, now Texas A&M University Kingsville earning several hours while pursuing a criminal justice degree.

Cortez began her career working with the Kleberg County Sheriff’s Department in 1979. She received her Basic Peace Officers Certification in 1980 and has completed over 1000 hours attending Law Enforcement schools and training. During her 28 years as a Kleberg County employee, Cortez worked with four sheriffs. She was the first female officer to be awarded Officer of the Year by her coworkers in the Kleberg County Sheriff’s Office.

Currently, she is employed with the Child Protective Services. She is a community volunteer at St. Martin Church and also serves as treasurer of the Columbian Ladies. She is the daughter of Mercedes “Nena” Cortez and the late Gilberto Cortez.

Cortez also states her mission statement is simple and to the point: “Full time and professional public service for the citizens of Kleberg County.