It’s amazing to watch candidates morph into different creatures during an election cycle. For years, Bill King has self described himself as a moderate politician, catering to the whims of the business community at taxpayers’ expense. Now, suddenly, as he campaigns for Mayor of Houston, he wants to be known as a political outsider that will be a champion for taxpayers. From an email in my inbox today:
In the upcoming mayoral election, Bill King is the only candidate – the only candidate – who understands what needs to be fixed, and has the political courage to follow through and get the job done.
Bill is NOT a captive of the special interests that control City Hall. He will put an end to the City Hall culture that puts personal agendas and political insiders ahead of average taxpayers. He will focus on “fixing the streets, catching the crooks and balancing the city budget.”
Anytime a candidate says that he is the only one with “political courage”, beware. What he is really saying is that he won’t be afraid to increase taxes to pursue his agenda.
Now, about that statement that “He will put an end to the City Hall culture that puts personal agendas and political insiders ahead of average taxpayers.” That my friend, is a joke. For the truth, let’s turn to Wayne Dolcefino and his attempt to get records from HISD about Bill King.
HISD loses legal battle to protect Bill King
For three years, HISD has been fighting to keep a secret. Namely, e-mails exchanged between Bill King and the Superintendent of HISD Schools Terry Grier.
This week HISD lost the battle. The Texas Attorney General says taxpayers have a right to see them.
HISD first claimed releasing the King e-mails would interfere with a corruption case involving former school trustee Larry Marshall. HISD is no longer part of that lawsuit so they couldn’t use that excuse anymore.
This spring the argument changed. HISD now argued the e-mails would disclose legal advice Bill King gave to the Superintendent. You don’t hear it in the Mayoral commercials, but Bill King was paid $52,800 in tax money in 2012 as a governmental relations lawyer for the school district.
“Taxpayers may not have known it, but they paid Bill King to lobby for that huge 2012 HISD Bond Election, yet HISD has fought to keep secret exactly what he did for the money,” says Wayne Dolcefino, President of Dolcefino Consulting. “I think we should know what he did, who he talked to, and whether King was involved in soliciting campaign contributions from contractors.”
It is no secret the FBI has been investigating HISD contracting practices for years. Two years ago, an HISD contractor provided evidence to Dolcefino Consulting of improper payments to Houston School Board Members. That tape recording was also provided to the FB I. Published news reports have explored links between bond contributions and HISD contracts.
It has never been clear why HISD tried to hide Bill King Communications. At the time HISD was being sued by a contractor who claimed at least one school board member was soliciting bribes.
HISD has yet to turn over the e-mails. Stay tuned.
Taxpayer friend? Conservative champion? How about hypocrisy to go with that?
As for the “political courage” that the reinvented Bill King suddenly found, here is what Ben Hall has to say:
Ben Hall stood firm with Houston’s voters from the beginning.
As former Houston City Attorney, Ben knew Houston Mayor Annise Parker broke the law when she denied over 54,000 Houstonians the right to vote on HERO.
Ben didn’t make a political calculation. He followed the law and his faith.
Then there is Bill King, who sat on his hands and said nothing.
He did not voice opposition to the HERO ordinance nor the blatant suppression of voter rights. He did not protest when pastors’ sermons were subpoenaed as part of a campaign to silence critics.
He said nothing while Houstonians had to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars just for their day in court.
But now that the Texas Supreme Court has spoken, Bill King has suddenly found his courage. King now says the HERO ordinance was never needed and that voters should have the right to vote.
Where were you Mr. King when it mattered?
Political courage?