In an update to the article David posted on February 8, 2016 titled “Al Zolli says to be skeptical when using endorsement slates” where he wrote about a “Conservative” group playing politics with their slate endorsement process in the Republican Primary for HD 150 comes another example of why it’s important to never take any endorsement on face value.

Only this time the race is for a position on the board of ESD 11.

Seven people are vying for three spots on the board of ESD 11—the elected government safety agency for Cypress Creek EMS that provides 911 emergency ambulance service for over 600,000 Harris County residents.

Would the hijinks used in the CCHC endorsement process in the HD 150 race be repeated in the ESD 11 race?

A community source forwarded me a copy of an email sent by Alex McCoy, GOP Precinct Chair 876 on March 21, 2016. Alex wrote:

“It is time for the voters of Harris County to clean up the board of ESD 11 and elect the following slate:

Robert Berleth

Kevin Brost

Matt Folsom

All three have a combined 75+ years of 911 first responder experience, are highly educated, and understand how to run an ESD.  The other candidates have 0 years of first responder experience, combined. (Now Fred Blanton has also filed to run, but I think Fred did it just to ensure that there was a third person available on the ticket to clean up this board.) Voters will vote for (up to) three candidates in this election on May 7^th. Three commissioners will be elected; the three candidates that receive the highest number of votes.

Early voting will happen for 2 weeks before then election. If the polling places are similar to the last election, they will be located at various fire stations around the Klein area within ESD 11.

We do not want to split the ticket again this election – the stakes are too high for our voters. Please contact either Robert ([email protected]) or me if you want more information about the current situation with ESD 11.

If you want to support this candidate slate, please contact Robert or me as there are various ways to help support these three candidates. I ask for your support of this slate in the May 7^th election.”

Alex is also the Treasurer – Coordinator of the “Conservative” Coalition of Harris County and is the same Alex McCoy Al Zolli contacted about the endorsement process in the HD 150 race.

Note the date of this next email—April 8, 2016—–less than three weeks AFTER the “slate support” message above dated March 21.

From: “CCHC Coordinator” <[email protected]>
Date: Apr 8, 2016 2:05 PM
Subject: CCHC PAC Voter’s panel results for ESD 11 race
To: [email protected]> email address obscured by Yvonne
Cc: 

Candidates:

To those candidates that responded, I want to thank you for taking your time to fill out our questionnaire and interview before the panel. Our 12 member panel has finished voting for their choices in the ESD 11 race. Each panel member cast 3 votes from the seven candidates running in this race. The three candidates with the most votes are considered to be endorsed by CCHC PAC. The results (alphabetical order) are:

Candidate       Totals 
Robert William Berleth  7      
Fred T. Blanton 5      
Robert Kevin Brost      11     
Robert Matthew Folsom   11     
Karen Clara Plummer     1      
Robert Thomas Pinard    0      
Thomas Allen Ripley     1      

Total votes cast        36

Again, special thanks to all the candidates for being willing to serve the public as an ESD commissioner.

Alex McCoy

Treasurer – Coordinator

Conservative Coalition of Harris County

Draw your own conclusion—an email of support for the “slate” candidates was circulated on March 21, 2016 before the results of the candidate questionnaires were publicized on April 8, 2016.

Did the other candidates have a chance to earn the endorsement of the “Conservative” Coalition of Harris County ?

Make up your own mind based on the facts.