Judge Quincy Beavers Jr.

Derrick Choice has been selected to fill the Smith County Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 vacancy after the resignation of longtime Judge Quincy Beavers Jr.

Choice won the March Democratic Primary and since he faces no Republican opponent, was set to take over the office in January. On Tuesday, the commissioners court approved appointing Choice to fill the immediate vacancy left by Beavers when he resigned last week.

“We are appreciative of (Beavers’) service to the county for so many years,” said Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran.

Typically, commissioners will take more time to consider how to fill a vacancy such as the JP 1 position, but this situation was different, Moran said.

“Mr. Choice has no opponent in the fall, so he is effectively the JP 1 elect at this point, so it seems to me… that the best thing to do for this court is to go ahead and appoint him if there is a vacancy and to go ahead and let him start serving,” he said.

Choice will serve as the interim JP 1 until he is officially sworn into office.

“I did meet with Mr. Choice last week, and he is ready and willing to step into that position, and we know that he will do a great job for the citizens of JP 1,” said Pct. 4 Commissioner JoAnn Hampton.

Choice previously told the Tyler Morning Telegraph that along with the set JP duties, he looks forward to providing young people with leadership and looking into the mental health situation in the jail.

“I just want to continue to serve this community like I have for over 30 years, and this position is one of service,” Choice said during his campaign.

Choice said he earned a degree in criminal justice from the University of Texas at Tyler. For six years, he worked with the Smith County Juvenile Probation Department, was a public service director for KLTV, was on the Tyler City Council and works as a community health program manager for the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Beavers’ resignation, which he said was due to health reasons, was effective Friday.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must resign …” Beavers wrote in a letter to Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran.

Beavers served as Smith County Pct. 1 JP for about 28 years.

Hampton said Beavers served the county for around 40 years.

“We want to thank him for the amazing job he has done for our citizens,” she said.

Before becoming JP, Beavers said he worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years, 10 of which were with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Grambling State University, a masters degree from East Texas State University and took more than 400 hours in legislative law update course work at Southwest Texas State University.

He also has received numerous awards as JP including the HOPE Award from East Texas Crisis Center, a certificate of appreciation from Tyler ISD, Pioneer Hall of Fame Awards from Jarvis Christian College and more.