BEAUMONT, Texas — Tension on the Beaumont City Council escalated Tuesday as Councilwoman LaDonna Sherwood publicly called for Councilmen Mike Williams and Joey Hilliard to be censured amid their continued push for the resignation or possible termination of Fire Chief Earl White and Assistant Fire Chief Christian Singler.

Williams has renewed his call for the department’s leadership to step down, citing what he describes as years of mismanagement, chronic short-staffing and excessive overtime costs. His renewed criticism comes as the fire department sees its strongest hiring interest in years: 347 people registered for Monday’s civil service exam, and 162 attended and took the test. The surge follows the launch of the city’s new fire cadet program, which drew “338 applications for roughl

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