Big Jolly Politics

politics in Harris County and Texas

Cheryl Johnson stands with Lonnie Cox

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Press release from Galveston County Tax Assessor Collector Cheryl Johnson:

 

cheryl johnson tax cutter

I Stand With Lonnie Cox

The race for Galveston County Judge is notable – not because there are two candidates running with big plans for the county – there is only one doing that.  The other is focused on mudslinging rather than issues.  I have endorsed the most qualified, compassionate and faithful candidate – the one who has been a public servant – not just for the last two months but the last thirteen years.

Lonnie Cox has been serving civic organizations throughout our communities and has led (as President, Vice President or Board member) Galveston Kiwanis, Galveston Rotary, Dickinson Optimist, Communities in Schools, MI Lewis Social Services and 50 Club of Galveston.  He has entertained thousands playing beside notables such as Frank Incaprera in the Galveston Beach Band and has rarely missed a Propeller Club dinner (raising money for Texas A&M Galveston students).  When I asked him to join me for a League City Lions Club breakfast one Sunday – he politely declined because he picks up am elderly church member every Sunday before teaching his Sunday school class.

I have sat beside him for 12 years judging BBQ at fundraisers for Tiki Island Volunteer Fire Department, Hitchcock Good Ole Days, and only wish I had been invited to join him at the Galveston County Fair & Rodeo cook-offs!  We have shared sweaty hours in July 4th parades and cold ones at Christmas parades in Dickinson, Friendswood, Hitchcock, League City, La Marque and Texas City, enjoyed the boat, Mardi Gras and Cinco de Mayo parades in Kemah, Galveston, Texas City and others.

Lonnie Cox is my choice for County Judge because he is a man of honor, intelligence and wit.  He would rather bring people together to work out an agreement than do battle – unless that battle will positively impact an employee, citizen or community.  I trust him to restore honor to Galveston County.  I trust him to deliver a vision and bring cohesion and hope back to County government.

Candidate credentials are important – Lonnie’s are impeccable.  That he has extensive knowledge of the law will help facilitate the work remaining in Harvey recovery.  That he has a Master’s in Business, Bachelor’s in Music and great faith gives me confidence that the former recipient of the Ted Poe “Damn Good Judge” award is the “Best Damn Judge” to lead Galveston County.

The County needs a leader who will work with commissioners, department heads, officials of our cities, school districts, community colleges, State and Federal officials to defend and protect the most precious asset of this County – its people.  This man of faith, family and friends has never failed to place the needs of others above himself.

The measure of a man is what is does with power.  There is only one choice in this election and that is the man who has never abused his power.  I stand proudly beside him and ask that you join me in electing Lonnie Cox as the next County Judge of Galveston County.

Related:

Cheryl Johnson at odds with Galveston County Judge Mark Henry

Cheryl Johnson at odds with Galveston County Judge Mark Henry

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I can’t say that I know anything about Galveston County Republican politics but GC Tax Assessor Collector Cheryl Johnson is going all out against GC County Judge Mark Henry. From the Inbox:

Lov ya Bon!

Most everyone in Galveston County is familiar with the battle between county judge candidates and the termination of Bonnie Quiroga. But what do you really know about the leading lady? Likely not much.

Bonnie Rigsby Quiroga began working for Galveston County in 1984. A public servant for 32 years, she was loyal to the people and purpose of county government.

Democrats controlled the County for 150 years thus the 2010 election of a Republican county judge and smooth transition of power was guaranteed to be difficult. Bonnie provided office space and personnel to him, helped him navigate the complexities of the courthouse, filled gaps on the history of departments and personalities of officials. They became friends but then, she dared to disagree with some decisions (recording devices placed in inmate/attorney conference areas, illegal bid activity by staff of GOP official, illegal hiring of relatives by GOP commissioner, etc.) and urged him to change paths.

That did not go well. She chose to be a responsible civil servant and blew the whistle and she was terminated. Two weeks later her brother was fired from the county and then commissioners threatened to eliminate her sister’s position during budget workshops.

You see, the county judge has a problem. He is a bully. Bullies don’t want advice because they are never wrong. In order to distract critics, he lied, claiming she took too much time off from work (yet each year she forfeited vacation and sick leave). She worked nights and weekends but he said she didn’t do her job. He could not define her failures. Her personnel file contained no disciplinary action. When ordered by the judiciary to return to work, he locked her out of the office twice, ordered her arrested for trespass, denied telephone, computer and e-mail. She was not paid a single dime for two years.

I am not arguing Bonnie’s lawsuit, I think you deserve the truth. For two years you have been spoon fed political spin by the best lawyers tax money can buy. So here goes…

Bonnie Quiroga: community volunteer, property owner, taxpayer, daughter, mother, grandmother, sister to five brothers and sisters, aunt to seven, sister-in-law, cousin (of many) and friend to hundreds. Public servant (notable accomplishments included uncovering jail break that included plan to kill a Sheriff’s deputy, reported $400,000 theft of taxpayer funds, assisted in recovery of kidnapped child and arrest of his abductors, rescued terminated employees on the verge of retirement from loss of benefits, etc.). She rescues dogs, raises “Bonnie” rabbits and likes to fish with family and friends. She cared for a childhood friend dying of kidney disease for a year. She would give you the last dollar in her wallet, the shirt off her back, a frightful scowl when you are wrong and a healing hug if hurt. She laughs from the bottom of her gut and sings (loudly) out of tune.

So now you know the leading lady of 14-CV-1289. Thanks for your service – we love ya, Bon!

A quick Google search turns up this bizarre article from the Houston Press about the case (fair warning, the Houston Press is pretty much a goner now and always sensationalized anything they could about Republicans):

Embarrassing Emails Filed in Legal Battle Between Galveston County Commissioners and Judges

Galveston County Judge Mark Henry sure knows how to spice up dull legal dispute over the hiring and firing of court staff. Mix in some backroom sniping, a bit of rumor-mongering, and just a hint of public sex and you’ve got the awkward mess that’s now before the state’s First Court of Appeals.

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“In a November 14, 2011 email, Ms. Quiroga criticizes the decision of one of the State District Judges to appoint Associate Judge Suzanne Schwab Radcliffe, saying of Radcliffe: ‘What I didn’t say at the interviews is that I don’t recommend appointing anyone who was having sex on a picnic table at one of the County Christmas parties.’ …In an earlier July 24, 2011 email, Ms. Quiroga described Radcliffe as ‘a selfish bit … [bitch].'”

We asked Radcliffe, who was an associate family court judge until last year, about that particular allegation. On Friday afternoon she told us via email, “I was never interviewed to be the AJ and of course never had sex in a park on a bench! I have no idea who she is talking about? I was appointed in 1997 and stayed the AJ until 2012 w/ no interview process. I know when Yarbrough took the Bench, they interviewed for the other AJ position.” We got another email from Radcliffe at 1:47 a.m. on Saturday: “I never interviewed for my position as an associate judge and I certainly never had sex in a park IF YOU REPRINT THAT THAT LIE I HAVE. TALJED TO AN ATTORNEY.”

Well then.

And you thought that Harris County Republican politics were bizarro?

 

Galveston County Tax Assessor Cheryl Johnson says Raise Your Voice!

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cheryl johnson property tax relief

cheryl johnson
Cheryl Johnson

I am increasingly disappointed by government and organization opposition to Senate Bill 2 (Texas Property Tax Reform and Relief Act) filed by Senators Bettencourt, Creighton, Hancock and Taylor (Van).  Disappointment blossomed into outrage upon discovery that my school district is pursuing hiring uncertified teachers and is constructing a new boardroom, my city aims to build dog parks (in a city where the average lot is over half an acre), my county has spent a million dollars on a single lawsuit, and the drainage district isn’t really accomplishing its mission to reduce flooding.

When President Kennedy challenged us to, “…ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country…” I do not believe he intended that we provide unbridled access to our bank accounts, yet that is what appears to be occurring at the local level.  The growing government opposition to SB 2 is an example of that with local officials aligning themselves against an effort designed to establish automatic controls over tax increases – necessary because of governmental effort to do all they can – not only what they should.

Property taxes in Texas have been out of control for decades thanks to ever increasing property values.  Many governments held the line on tax increases but have enjoyed the additional income resulting from a growing tax base.  In hearing after hearing across Texas last year, anxious and anguished taxpayers begged the Senate Select Committee on Appraisal Reform to do something.  SB2 was filed in response.

The bone of contention by governments arises from a mandatory limit on revenue to 4{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} above the prior year (plus debt) with an automatic election if revenues increase beyond that limit.  This is necessary, in large part, because of the myriad dates and times local governments meet to discuss taxes and spending.  Citizens do not have time to babysit local government actions thus automatic controls when taxes are involved – a blessing for Texas families.

Personally, I believe 4{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} is a pretty good pay increase, certainly more than most receive.  Add to that the government “savings accounts” – funds held in “reserve” – that often accumulate from underestimation of revenue year-after-year-after-year.  I am thrilled my government is solid because of robust savings but my reserves for three to four months of expenses plus three to four months of debt was drained to create this for them.  While we tightened our belts, government tightened the noose and weighed us down with unreasonable tax burdens.

So, taxpayers unite!  The time has arrived to stand together against out of control government spending.  Local governments will use your money to fight for their right to tax without forced limit and accountability.  It takes minutes a day to communicate online with your legislators (find them at www.capitol.state.tx.us), to post on Facebook, Pinterest or Nextdoor.  Pick up the phone and call your State Rep and Senate office.  Voice your opinion because government special interest will be voicing theirs as tax reform is hotly debated in the Texas Capitol this spring.

Time to check your property tax appraisals

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One of the most important things that a homeowner must do every year is to check the appraisal value that your local appraisal board has assigned to your property. This year it is especially critical because the appraisal boards know that the economy is relatively strong and in their eyes, that means automatic property appraisal increases, even where the increase is not justified. In some cases, it might be that you should protest even if the appraised value is the same as the year before because your specific neighborhood might have gone down. Don’t accept the appraised value given to you by a bureaucrat.

George Scott over at George Scott Reports is a veteran of the Harris County Appraisal District and has written extensively on the district undervaluing commercial property, putting the burden of taxes on homeowners. I’d suggest that you click over there and read some of them so that you can get a better idea of what is happening. Here are his thoughts about wether or not you should file a protest:

Protest or Not?

Confronted with the magnitude of this development and other related issues, every single homeowner should a file a formal protest of values with HCAD by the May 31, 2014 statutory deadline. (There are exceptions to that deadline but that’s the one in effect for the vast majority of homeowners.)

Between now and May 31 (the actual deadline will shift to June 2 because of the calendar),George Scott Reports will cover this matter in detail. But here are the basic reasons every (literally) homeowner should file a formal protest.

  1. There is no downside to filing a protest. It is your statutory right. Use it.
  2. If there were ever a year to do this, 2014 is the year because it is the base year of what is expected to be multiple years of increases.
  3. There is no relationship between your fighting for lower taxable values and the amount of money you can sell your home for even if you win lower taxable values.
  4. HCAD is facing unprecedented legal challenges from major commercial property owners whose values were increased in 2013 and will increase again in 2014. In the past, HCAD has surrendered literally billions of dollars of value in settlement with these major commercial and industrial property owners.
  5. Historically, HCAD and other central appraisal districts have certified values on these major properties at about 65{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} (give or take depending upon category) of true market value while homes have been taxed much closer or actually in excess of true market value. That’s an issue of equity and it is also a potential constitutional issue as a basis of a future lawsuit IF HCAD does not ‘right its ship’ so to say.
  6. The fate of the resolution of these current and major lawsuits will not generally be decided before the May 31 deadline for homeowners to protest. HCAD’s settlement position of 2014 values for these major properties is at least a year way if not more.
  7. Homeowners who want to preserve their standing to pursue or join an equity based challenge on the difference in how HCAD certifies major commercial and residential property should file a protest to protect their best position, I have been advised.

We will go into all of these issues in much more detail over the course of the next weeks and months. Your mailbox will soon receive your official notice from HCAD. In reality, it’s a no-brainer. File the protest. Preserve your options. It’s not that hard to represent yourself and it’s not that expensive to turn the process over to a professional tax agent that generally work on a contingency of actual savings or a relative small fee plus contingency.

If you don’t protest and lower your new appraised value, that becomes the base for next year and beyond. I was mildly surprised that the district thinks my property has increased 6.2{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} in one year. Remember, I live in the tiny city of Shoreacres, where we still haven’t fully recovered from Hurricane Ike, our tax rate is the highest in the area, our budget is 20{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} in the red, flood insurance reform is hurting property values, homes sit for months before selling, and the Port of Houston’s Bayport expansion rumbles in our backyards. And yet someone hired by HCAD drives by my house and says, yep, he needs to pay more taxes. Ridiculous. So, I’ll definitely be filing.

If you live in Galveston County, you are in luck because you have taxpayer friendly Cheryl Johnson as your Tax Assessor/Collector. Ms. Johnson is holding a series of classes on how to protest your appraisal:

Galveston County Tax Assessor Collector Cheryl Johnson’s press release on free classes on protesting property tax appraisals

cheryl-johnson-press-release-property-taxes-2014

Wouldn’t it be nice if every elected official was as taxpayer friendly as Ms. Johnson?

Oh, and one more thing about property taxes. Sen. Dan Patrick has made this one of his  most important issues for years. He hasn’t received much support in the past, with members of both chambers preferring to listen to local government officials, who like the fact that  their budgets increase without having to go to the voters and raise rates. Patrick’s runoff against Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is on May 27th, days before the end of the protest filing period. I’m guessing that he is going to raise the profile of this issue as part of his campaign, so expect to hear a lot more about it.

Property tax reform is critical to the long term success of the state. Until then, you and me as homeowners are on our own and must protect our own interests because heretofore, politicians have refused to recognized the extremely high burden that we bear.

 

Cheryl Johnson: Identity theft possible after judge blocks Texas voter laws

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Cheryl Johnson

Whoa, I didn’t see this coming. Thanks go to Galveston County Tax Assessor Collector Cheryl Johnson for alerting the public to some serious consequences arising from an injunction issued by Federal District Judge Gregg Costa. You can read her entire press release by clicking here but this is the relevant (and scary) portion:

 

A volunteer deputy registrar is authorized to both distribute and accept voter registration applications.  The Court has recently determined that these volunteers may make a copy of your application.  Thus, any person completing an application at a voter registration drive needs to be aware that handing that application back could result in your personal information being retained by the volunteer or their organization.

Wow. Are you kidding me? The judge allowed copies to be made of your voter registration information? Have you ever seen some of the people that these groups pull in from around the country for these drives? Holy schmoly, Batman!

What makes the identity theft possibility even more plausible is that the judge also removed the requirement that volunteer deputy voter registrars must live in Texas. Why is that important? Because the residency requirement allowed Texas officials to run criminal background checks. Again, have you seen some of the people that are brought in from out of state to conduct these drives? Unbelievable.

Attorney General Abbott tried to get the judge to issue a stay on his ruling until it could be appealed but the judge refused. So even if Abbott is eventually successful at the Fifth Circuit, damage will already have been done.

I will note that Judge Costa is new to the bench, having been appointed by President Obama  in September 8, 2011 on the recommendation of both Texas US Senators Hutchison and Cornyn. Judge Costa was confirmed by the Senate on November 2, 2011. And he’s young – expect rulings like this for years to come.

Again, many thanks to Cheryl Johnson for her continued advocacy on behalf of voters. I truly wish that all elected officials had her zeal for voter and taxpayer rights.