The following are the complete and unedited responses submitted by the candidate listed below to the Amarillo Pioneer’s Candidate Questionnaire.
Photo by Adair Photography
Name: Christopher Forbis
Office Sought: Randall County Sheriff
Party Affiliation: Republican
Age: 56
Educational Background: Attended Amarillo College, West Texas State University, Graduated from the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas at Sam Houston State University
Occupation: Sheriff
If you are a business owner, please list the business or businesses that you own.
Not Applicable
Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, religious, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.
Director Sheriff's Association of Texas, Board Member Texas Child Fatality Review Team, Past Chair of the Panhandle Regional Emergency Management Committee, Past Board Member Panhandle Regional Law Enforcement Advisory Committee, Past President Canyon Rotary Club, Past President Texas Panhandle Peace Officers Association, Past President Randall County Law Enforcement Association, Board Member Potter Randall 911 District.
Have you previously held or do you currently hold any elected office? If so, what office(s)?
Currently hold the office of Randall County Sheriff
If your campaign has any online campaign resources where voters can learn more about you, such as social media accounts or a website, please list them below.
Website: sheriffforbis.com Facebook: Re-elect Chris Forbis Randall County Sheriff
Why did you decide to run for this office in 2024?
To continue my mission to serve and protect the citizens of Randall County and to provide the citizens of Randall County professional cost-effective law enforcement services.
If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
1. To continue partnering with school districts continually improving school safety.
Reserve deputies on campus program, improving emergency communications, conducting drills and assessments, and providing training.
Developing School Resource Officer program utilizing SB22 grant funding
2. To continue targeting dealers and suppliers of Fentanyl. Due to the Biden Administration’s broken border policies, we have seen an influx of Fentanyl. We are working diligently to arrest and prosecute those who are dealing in this deadly and illegal poison.
3. To build upon our current community outreach program that includes our Citizens and Student Academies, Active Shooter Response training for Citizens, Jail Ministry Program, National Night Out, Shop with a Cop, involvement in community Civic Organizations and provide direct communication and neighborhood safety with the citizens through our Sheriff's Office App.
What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
The growth Randall County is experiencing. We are working pro-actively to ensure we will be able to continue providing professional cost effective law enforcement services to the citizens of Randall County. Examples include our 96 bed Jail Expansion that was funded without raising taxes. Utilizing our resources effectively for our patrol division at a rate matching the growth.
Do you have any notable endorsements you would like to highlight for voters?
Sheriff Joel W. Richardson (Retired)
Sheriff Harold Hooks (Retired)
Criminal District Attorney Robert Love
Mayor Cole Stanley
Randall County Sheriff's Association
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
I have been honored to have served the citizens of Randall County for 31 years, the last 3 as your Randall County Sheriff. I am a Licensed Master Peace Officer and Master Jailer. I have worked in all areas of the sheriff’s office and that gives me a valuable perspective being sheriff. Since I took office in 2021 we have partnered with our local school districts to improve school security, embarked on expanding the Randall County Jail to provide adequate space without raising taxes, targeted dealers and suppliers of fentanyl and started several community engagement programs. I am committed to our community through civic organizations such as Canyon Lions Club, Canyon Rotary Club. We work with the United Way of Amarillo and Canyon supporting their efforts through the Loaned Executive program. My door is always open to any citizen who wishes to meet and discuss anything that is important to them. I am dedicated to our community and work diligently every day to keep Randall County the best and safest place to live, work, and visit.