Fort Bend ISD political ads paid for —by whom?

Back in October we noticed “Vote for FBISD Proposition 1” signs across Fort Bend in the run-up to the November 4^th elections and pondered the rank hypocrisy of an individual who blasted the use of bonds so “certain vendors and developers could keep cashing in” while he personally could have benefited from his business being paid to print the signs in support of the bond he was so vehemently against (I believe in free markets, so no anti-capitalist email please).

Since that time, I discovered a newspaper print ad with “Vote for the FBISD bonds” sign and a robocall recording that all have one thing in common with sign above.

Listen and look closely. Can you spot the common denominator?

Yep, it’s the “pol paid ad by Excellence in Education for Everyone Committee” or “Paid political ad, Excellence in Education for Everyone PAC” disclosure required by the Texas Election Code.

Ya know what else is required under certain circumstances?

Yep, a special purpose committee is required to file a Campaign Treasurer Appointment, and in the case of the Fort Bend ISB school bond election, with Fort Bend ISD.

Other Local Filing Authority. If a specific-purpose committee supports, opposes, or assists a candidate for or holder of an office of a political subdivision other than a county or if the committee supports or opposes a measure to be submitted at an election ordered by an authority of a political subdivision other than a county, the appropriate filing authority is the clerk or secretary of the governing body of the political subdivision. If the political subdivision has no clerk or secretary, the appropriate filing authority is the governing body’s presiding officer. Basically, any political subdivision that is authorized by the laws of this state to hold an election is considered a local filing authority. Examples are cities, school districts, and municipal utility districts

Here’s a copy of the open records request I filed to obtain a copy of the campaign treasurer appointment along with Fort Bend ISD’s response. For brevity’s sake I removed confidentiality disclosures, auto-signatures and redacted my email address and phone number:

From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: RE: Open Records Request–Campaign Finance Reports
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 15:06:59 +0000
Thank you.

Subject: RE: Open Records Request–Campaign Finance Reports
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 08:30:31 -0600
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]

The paralegal that handles Public Information Requests, Laura Donnelly, is currently out of the office.  After speaking with  her, she advised that the documents previously attached are the only campaign finance reports currently on file.  She will be back in the office on Tuesday if you would like to speak with her directly.

From: Yvonne Larsen [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 8:27 PM
To: Public Information; Yvonne Larsen
Subject: FW: Open Records Request–Campaign Finance Reports

Hello Lynae–thanks you for your note.

The attached documents are not responsive to my request.

The attached documents are copies of campaign finance reports and the campaign treasurer appointment form for the committee “Citizens xxx xxxxxx xxxx “.

My request was for campaign finance reports and the campaign treasurer appointment form for the “Excellence in Education for Everyone  Committee”

Please advise.

Yvonne Larsen

713-nnn-nnnn

Subject: RE: Open Records Request–Campaign Finance Reports
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 10:54:43 -0600
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]

I attempted to reach you by phone and left a voice mail message, but I had not heard back from you yet.

According to our records, the requested campaign finance reports were emailed on October 31, 2014.  I’ve attached them to this email for your convenience.  You may want to check your spam folder for the original email.

Please let me know if you should need anything further.

From: Public Information
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2014 8:46 AM
To: Yvonne Larsen; Public Information; Donnelly, Laura
Subject: RE: Open Records Request–Campaign Finance Reports

I do apologize, but the Paralegal that handles theses requests is at a seminar today and tomorrow.  I have sent her an email to inquire as to the status of your request.  I will let you know once I have more information.

From: Yvonne Larsen [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2014 2:44 PM
To: Public Information; Donnelly, Laura; Yvonne Larsen
Subject: RE: Open Records Request–Campaign Finance Reports

Hello—Ten business days have passed since I made the following request.

I have not been copied on a request by FBISD on an Attorney General opinion and state which exceptions apply;
I have not been notified the information is not on file with FBISD;
I have not been notified of a referral to the Attorney General; and
I have not been notified the request involves their proprietary information.

Please advise.

Yvonne Larsen
713-nnn-nnnn
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Open Records Request
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 16:34:18 +0000

This is a written request, pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act (the “Act”), Chapter 552 of the Government Code, for the following:

**A copy of all campaign finance reports filed by the Excellence in Education for Everyone  Committee

**A copy of the Campaign Treasurer Appointment form filed by the Excellence in Education for Everyone  Committee

I respectfully request the documents be submitted in all electronic formats available and sent to the email address [email protected] in accordance with Sec. 552.010

As provided by the Act, I will expect your response within ten days. If you believe this information is not public, I ask that you immediately notify me and then seek a formal decision from the Attorney General not later than ten business days from your receipt of this request, as required by the Act.

Disclosure of this information is in the public interest because providing a copy of the information primarily benefits the general public. I therefore request a waiver of all fees and charges pursuant to Section 552.267 of the Act.

Thank you for your assistance,

Yvonne Larsen

And a search of the Texas Ethics Commission website by the treasurer name Leatherwood reveals zip, zilch, nada.

Why a campaign treasurer appointment (CTA) wasn’t filed with Fort Bend ISD designating Claude Leatherwood as the treasurer of the Excellence in Education for Everyone Committee is beyond me.

Did the “certain vendors” cashing in wish to remain unknown?

Afraid of the “vendor feeder” label perhaps?