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STAFF REPORT

Hays County Pct. 2 Constable James Kohler, a Democrat, is a sort of throwback to somewhere else: A politician who doesn’t even bother with the pretense of polish.

Asked at the San Marcos Area League of Women Voters debate this week to identify the biggest challenge facing his office in quickly suburbanizing Kyle, Kohler said, “There’s just too many people coming in.”

During the most recent term of his nine terms, Kohler said his office collects more revenue serving warrants and court documents than it costs to operate. That was about as specific as he got. He answered the moderators’ questions with casual, good-natured indifference.

“If people like me, they vote for me. If they don’t like me, they still vote for me,” he said.

A Kyle resident, Hall is currently the police chief of Bertram, a tiny Burnet County town probably best known for appearing on numerous Internet listings of Texas speed traps.

Hall is stressing professionalism and training, noting that he has been a licensed peace officer for 19 years during which time he graduated from the FBI National Academy and completed 2,400 hours of certified training.