Big Jolly Politics

politics in Harris County and Texas

Assistant AG Glicker: a hotel is not a residence

by

After a Montgomery County jury convicted Jim Jenkins of “knowingly” voting in the May 2010 Woodlands Road Utility District election, Assistant Attorney General David Glicker tweeted “a hotel is not a residence”:

Glickler

Remember when George H.W. Bush rented a suite at the Houstonian, a hotel that served as their official Texas residence? A 1992 CNN Money article explained:

“Bush maintains his legal voting residence and domicile in Texas….Texas domicile law is solely concerned with intent. To confirm the state as the First Couple’s legal domicile, Bush simply signed a declaration stating that he intended eventually to return to Texas permanently.”

“Their only Texas property is an unimproved Houston lot of 33 feet x 160 feet…the few nights a year they sleep in Houston, they rent a three-room suite at the Houstonian, a hotel that is their official Texas residence…”

If a hotel is not a residence, will the Montgomery County voter residing at 17525 St. Lukes Way, The Woodlands be prosecuted after he casts a ballot? His residence shares the address of the Candlewood Suites Hotel.

Will the woman registered to vote at 9595 Six Pines Drive, The Woodlands be prosecuted for knowingly voting in the November 2012 Conroe ISD election? 9595 Six Pines Drive, The Woodlands is the address of the Hyatt Market Street Hotel.

The responsibility to amend election law resides with the Texas Legislature and not through the Attorney General’s criminal prosecution of Jenkins, Heath and The Woodlands RUD.

Scandal-ridden Dems part of Texas AG’s human trafficking task force

by

Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg and Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed joined Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s inaugural Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force meeting in January 2010.

According to a January 2010 press release on the Texas Attorney General website, legislation sponsored by State Senator Leticia Van de Putte and then State Representative Randy Weber resulted in the creation of the Task Force during the 81st Legislative Session under House Bill 2009.

“Joining the attorney general at today’s meeting were Sen. Leticia Van de Putte and Rep. Randy Weber, who authored legislation creating the task force. Also present were task force members Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg and Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed.”

In April 2013, Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg was sentenced to 45 days in jail for driving while intoxicated.

WatchdogWire reported on a case out of Bexar County involving allegations of corruption and cover-ups made by former San Antonio City Director of Telecommunications John Foddrill, Sr. towards State Senator and Lt Governor candidate Leticia Van de Putte and Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed.

PG Matuszak reported those allegations involved 45 months of illegal meetings in violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act and DA Reed’s refusal to prosecute stemming from Foddrill’s research of the City of San Antonio’s monthly billing account (aka “the variable account”), and potential circumventions of the city charter and Texas Local Government Code.

On July 1, 2014 the Office of the Attorney General’s office published a news release on and link to a Human Trafficking Prevention Manual for Educational Professionals.

Hyatt Regency Houston: zero tolerance for law-abiding, licensed concealed handgun holders

by

Looking for a hotel room in Downtown Houston? I was. My choices were narrowed down to three and after reading the firearms policy of the Hyatt Regency Houston I’ve made my decision. If you are a law-abiding Texan holding a concealed handgun license, the firearms policy of the Hyatt Regency in Houston states guests or visitors of this Hyatt hotel are permitted to possess a firearm or bring it on the property for storage purposes only.

Hotel premises are private property.  Guests or visitors of a Hyatt hotel who lawfully are permitted to possess a firearm, may bring such firearm onto hotel premises for storage purposes only

No exemption to this policy is allowed for private persons, even those licensed and permitted to carry a firearm, and/or where applicable, to conceal-carry a firearm.

The persons comprising the Hyatt Hotel Corporation are certainly within their right as private property owners to establish pet and firearms policies –just as law-abiding, conceal carry permit-holding persons are within their right to choose NOT to do business with Hyatt Hotel Corporation.

Do I care how long this policy has been in existence? Nah. But thanks Hyatt—another luxury property Downtown will get my business.

UPDATE: From the Texas Penal Code § 30.06. TRESPASS BY HOLDER OF LICENSE TO CARRY CONCEALED
HANDGUN.

Has the Hyatt Regency Houston posted a 30.06 sign in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public?

UPDATE: 30.06 sign not required?

 

Repeal the Houston UnEqualRights Ordinance

by

Or not. It really is up to you. Here is the latest from former Harris County Republican Party Chairman Jared Woodfill:

 

jared woodfill logo

One Day Left to Stop Mayor Parker’s Sexual Predator Protection Act!

We have one more day to stop an egregious assault on the rights of women and children to be safe when they use the restroom.  Additionally, businesses will face horrific fines and frivolous lawsuits, resulting in fewer jobs and economic hardship for Houstonians if Mayor Parker’s ‘Sexual Predator Protection Act’ is not put to a referendum.  Will you stand with us?  “Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.”

This is the last day to show that there is still courage in the hearts of Houstonians, and that here in Houston, citizens still know the difference between right and wrong.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?  SIMPLE!  GO TO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS AND VOLUNTEER TO VALIDATE PETITIONS.  IT IS EASY:  YOU WILL BE GIVEN TRAINING AND SHOWN WHAT TO DO.  

1.  Second Baptist Church, Woodway Campus – contact Lee Maxcy at 713-465-3408

2. Grace Community Church, Clear Lake (4 PM – 9 PM) – contact Trebor Gordon at 713-213-2215

3. Woodfill Law Firm (evening hours) – contact Jared Woodfill at 713-751-3080

4. Houston’s First Baptist Church (2 pm – 4 pm) contact Steven Murray at 713-681-8000

5. Champion Forest Baptist Church (9 am – 6 pm) contact Joey Mouton at 281-440-3800

6. Norman Adams Insurance – contact Darlene Mitchell at 713.869.8346

Thank you,

Jared Woodfill

Hey, I get it, you are afraid of “offending” someone because this ordinance was sold to you as an “equal rights” ordinance. But in reality, it is not and it is, as the title of this post says, and “UnEqual rights” ordinance.

Why? Because it allows deranged people to assault your children. And no, I’m not talking about that sliver of the population that is confused about their sexuality and are willing to undergo surgery to “correct” themselves. I’m talking about deranged people who will take advantage of Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s desires and will traumatize your children.

Look, this should be really easy. If you have plumbing that looks like X, you should go to this restroom. If you have plumbing that looks like Y, you go to that restroom. Simple. It shouldn’t matter if you think your plumbing should be something that it isn’t.

But the “progressives” say that the rights of people who THINK their plumbing should be different should outweigh the rights of little children who have no idea what we are talking about. I admit to being biased – as a father of females and a grandfather of a female, I think that it is my DUTY to protect them from things that they are far too young to understand. And to protect them from the predators that will take advantage of Houston’s new law.

My objection to this ordinance has nothing to do with people that are gender confused. It has everything to do with protecting children from predators. You can (and have) called me every name in the book but I do not care. It is not right to pass a law that protects predators.

If you believe the same thing, sign the petition. It looks like they might make it but it would be nice to have a large comfort zone.

And again, I ask, where is the current chair of the Harris County Republican Party on this issue? Paul, if you are listening, leadership is more than organization. You have been quoted as saying that the ordinance needs to be repealed but you have done nothing, as far as I can tell, to help in that effort. Is your reluctance to weigh in on the issue due in part to your benefactors? Is it a political calculation? If so, I have to tell you that some things are more important than political calculations. Is a lack of leadership on community issues going to be the hallmark of your administration? What is going on?

Jared Woodfill asks for your help!

by

Former Harris County Republican Party Chair Jared Woodfill has been working hard to overturn the Houston UNequalRights ordinance. From the InBox:

jared woodfill logo

No Signature Left Behind!

This is final weekend to collect signatures in churches and events throughout the City of Houston to repeal Mayor Parker’s Sexual Predator Protection Act!   Some have asked about the deadline for the referendum petition drive that would repeal Mayor Parker’s “Sexual Predator Protection Act”- an ordinance that has already encouraged men to enter women’s restrooms in Houston.   The official deadline for submitting referendum petitions to the City of Houston is Thursday, July 3.   We  are verifying the signatures prior to submitting petitions to the city; therefore, we would like to have all petitions returned to a drop off location or returned through mail byTuesday, July 1.  For information regarding the petition or the drop-off location near you, please go towww.nounequalrights.com.

I want to encourage you to work with your churches to have qualified voters with petitions set up tables at each main entrance of your church.

We need every signature we can get!   Also, if you or anyone you know (you DO NOT have to live within Houston city limits to verify!) are interested in helping verify, please contact me at 713.751.3080 and we can direct you to a location where verification is occurring.

Attached is an audio file from a radio spot regarding Mayor Parker’s Sexual Predator Protection Act.   The ad talks about only one of the growing list of incidents from Houston where men have been entering women’s restrooms!

Click here to listen to the radio spot.

In these last few days, we are attempting to collect an additional 15,000 signatures.  This will give us the buffer we need, knowing that Mayor Parker will work to invalidate as many signatures as possible. Also, we want send a strong  message to the Mayor and her liberal allies on the Houston City Council: Houstonians will not tolerate you violating our women and children and threatening our freedom!

The eyes of the nation are upon Houston.  The country is watching to see if the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (“LGBT”) movement chalks up another victory in its effort to promote their social agenda.  Let’s take a stand and defeat the LGBT agenda Mayor Parker is trying force on the City of Houston!

Thank you for the strong stance you are taking.   Let’s leave no signature behind and push forward to victory on July 3rd and then in November!

Will you help? Remember, you must be a City of Houston resident and a registered voter to sign the petition. A lot of groups have worked hard to allow citizens to vote on this ludicrous ordinance on the November ballot. Don’t rely upon “others” to defeat this ordinance – YOU need to help. Do you have the courage necessary to stand up to the bullies that want to expose your children to perverts? If not you, who? Remember, you are not alone – Woodfill and a host of others are standing with you. Don’t be afraid to fight this abomination.

Harris County Department of Education parts ways with superintendent

by

hcde-header

After twelve years at the helm of the Harris County Department of Education, Superintendent Dr. John Sawyer is retiring. At last week’s meeting of the HCDE Board, the Trustees voted 5-2 to accept his resignation in return for a buyout of $198,000, plus accrued personal leave, sick days and vacation days valued at $84,341.40. Here is the agreement:

Superintendent John Sawyer Retirement Agreement

The two votes against the buyout agreement were cast by Trustees Marvin Morris and Kay Smith. After the meeting, I asked them why they voted against the agreement and both said that they thought the buyout amount was too high.

Dr. Sawyer has been Superintendent of the HCDE since 2002 and has been at the forefront of expanding the department, including obtaining grants from both the state and federal government for programs such as Head Start, teacher education, and adult education. His relationship with the board soured after his ill advised expenditures on lobbyists in 2013 and also for his role in the failed Early to Rise initiative.

Obviously, as a small government conservative, expansion of any government body is anathema but in this specific case, the “expansion” has actually saved money for other government entities. We can argue about the net effect, but I think that the department is well run, fiscally responsible, and the board is one of the few examples left of how Democrats and Republicans can work together in pursuit of good governance.

As for the size of the buyout, I understand Trustees Morris and Smith’s complaint but in context, given his twelve years of service, his contract that runs through 2017, and his yearly compensation of $246,784.92, I do not think that the amount is exorbitant.

The Board appointed Assistant Superintendent Celes Harris as Acting Superintendent as they start their search for a replacement. You can read the press release from the HCDE Board by clicking here.

A couple of other notes from the meeting. The Board approved an amended contract for lobbying with The Schlueter Group (more information here). Supposedly, the amended contract is for several thousand dollars less per month, from $12,250 down to $10,000. I have tried unsuccessfully to obtain a copy of the amended contract and if I am able to, I will update this post. The vote on the amended contract was 5-2, with Trustees Morris and Smith voting against it. They both told me that while it is a good thing to spend less, the contract should have been cancelled and no money spent on lobbyists. I fully agree with them. As I have said repeatedly, the mission of the HCDE is education and any money given to lobbyists is money taken away from that mission.

Both candidates on the November ballot for the At-Large Position 7 seat on the board, Melissa Noriega (D) and Don Sumners (R), were in attendance. Mr. Sumners addressed the board about the budget, saying that he had attended the morning budget workshop and was mostly satisfied with the answers that he received. He noted that with the increase in property tax appraisals, the board would need to lower the tax rate in the future. He asked the board to table the vote on the budget until he received a few more answers about the budget. Trustee Kay Smith made a motion to table the vote, Trustee Howard Jefferson seconded it, and the motion was approved, with Trustee Erica Lee Carter voting no.

The next board meeting is set for July 15th. If you have never attended one of the HCDE board meetings, you should make it a point to attend. They really do work together to achieve common goals instead of tearing each other down on a partisan basis. I’m a bit concerned that the November election will change that dynamic.