Sam Mooney, an investigator for the district attorney’s office, has filed with the Republican Party to challenge Constable John Hatzenbulher for the Precinct 4 seat.

Mooney, 43, has worked for more than 20 years in law enforcement. Before his current job, he served civil papers for the Denton County Sheriff’s Office. That experience, Mooney said, will allow him to do the constable’s job efficiently and effectively

But to do so, he said, the office must be visible in all the communities in the precinct.

“They [deputies] need to be seen in the rural areas also,” he said. “It’s not only the deputies that need to be seen. I need to be seen also.”

Mooney said that if elected, he would not be a part-time constable, and he would work diligently to improve the office by working more closely with schools, towns and law enforcement agencies in the precinct.

Precinct 4 encompasses Flower Mound, Roanoke, Argyle, Copper Canyon and Double Oak.

“I want to evaluate and change things to optimize the efficiency,” he said.

Mooney said he would improve the office by hard work and motivating his deputies. He also said he believes that the constable’s office needs to keep the lines of communication open with the commissioners court and various county departments.

“It’s imperative,” he said. “If you don’t have good communication, it falls apart — whether it be money or whatever.”

As of late Monday, Republican incumbent Hatzenbulher had not filed with the party, but he has told Republican officials that he will run. 

Mooney was a deputy for six years with the Denton County Sheriff’s Office. He also has worked in the Seymour Police Department and the Archer County Sheriff’s Department.

Mooney graduated from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls with a degree in criminal justice in 1986. In that same year, he graduated from the Nortex Regional Police Academy.

He is married with two children and has lived in Denton County for nearly 15 years.  County constables are constitutionally authorized peace officers elected by their precinct.

The main duty of constables is to serve as an officer of the justice of the peace court. In that capacity, constables serve subpoenas and other civil papers.

“I want to take this office to the next level,” Mooney said. “It’s the next step in my career, and it’s a chance to do some good for the citizens of this county.”

DAN X. McGRAW can be reached at 940-566-6875. His email address is dmcgraw@dentonrc.com.