Steinmeyer says he's going to run for sheriff

The Democratic Party candidate for Fort Bend County Sheriff, Richmond attorney Tom Steinmeyer, said he will run a race against Republican incumbent Milton Wright in November. Steinmeyer said on Jan. 16 he would withdraw from the election, citing a lack of support from Democratic Party chair Felicia Farrar.

Wright challenged Steinmeyer's candidacy in a lawsuit, but dismissed the suit on Wednesday.

"What ultimately put me back into it, is that it appears Sheriff Wright is willing to have an open dialogue about things that are a problem in the Sheriff's Department," he said. "That is why I originally got into it in the first place."

Steinmeyer said he would like to see a diversification of the upper levels of the Sheriff's department to include more women and minorities, see more community policing and see greater cooperation among Fort Bend County law enforcement officers, including the Sheriff's Office and constables and city police.

Steinmeyer's candidacy came into question on Jan. 8 when Farrar announced his personal check for the $1,250 filing fee failed to clear. Farrar and the Secretary of State examined the matter and the Secretary of State determined the check failed to clear as a result of a banking error.

Wright filed a lawsuit demanding a permanent injunction barring Steinmeyer from candidacy on Jan. 16, accusing Steinmeyer of running as an illegal candidate.

Steinmeyer said last week after the dismissal he would consider running for sheriff again over the weekend.