Former Hays County Sheriff Appointed As Interim Constable Pct. 3

The Hays County Commissioners Court accepted the resignation of Constable Pct. 3 Ray Helm and appointed former sheriff Don Montague as interim constable Friday afternoon.

According to Commissioner Lon Shell, Montague was selected by the Hays County Republican Party as their candidate for the November Ballot.

During the discussion, Shell noted that there were qualifications that had to be met in order to serve as an interim constable.

Some of those requirements include:

• US Citizen
• Over the age of 18
• Mentally Capable
• NOT have been convicted of a felony
• Has maintained residence within a state continuously for 12 months
• Has maintained a residence within the Constable Precinct 3 territory for 6 months prior to appointment.
• Date of appointment must be registered to vote within Precinct 3
• Satisfy any eligibility required by law

Hays County Judge Becerra said he did not have anyone in mind to fill the appointment, but he believed the court should appoint someone from within the office to protect current employees from being terminated without reason. 

“There has been one individual that is a full-time deputy in the Hays County Constable Precinct 3 office that has made it clear he would accept an appointment,” Shell said. “That is the only person I have heard from that office who has said they would accept a temporary appointment.”

However, Shell said he had not been approached by anyone he believed qualified for the appointment. 

According to Shell, Corporal Cody Cheatham with Pct. 3 had expressed interest but had run in the March Primary for Constable Pct. 1, which would have required him to be a Precinct 1 resident less than six months ago. 

“Upon reading his qualifications, I do not believe he will be eligible for an appointment,” Shell said. “In this case, I believe that the best person to take over and to provide guidance for officers and to instill integrity and trustworthiness in the office is Don Montague.”

Shell said if the election were next week, he wouldn’t have an issue waiting for it to fill the position as residents were asking; however, he said waiting for the next three months would create a hold-over under state law allowing Ray Helm to maintain his position, which he did not believe was in the best interest of Precinct 3 residents.    

Montague’s law enforcement career began in 1967 as a Texas Highway Patrolman. In 1987, he joined the Hays County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy and went on to be promoted up to Chief Deputy.

In November 1996, he was elected as Hays County Sheriff and served until his retirement in 2005 following his re-election in 2000 and 2004. 

From August 2005 to 2015, he served as the director of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University.  

“I don’t think you could find a better nomination when you’ve got somebody that was elected countywide not that long ago, so he’s got respect throughout all four of our precincts,” Commissioner Mark Jones said. “I think he’ll do a great job, and I’m hoping that he’ll accept the nomination.”

The Court voted 4-1 to approve the appointment and accept the resignation of Ray Helm with Becerra voting against.

Becerra said his vote reflected his hope to appoint someone from within the organization, that wouldn’t be on the ballot and that won’t terminate deputies walking in.  

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