Big Jolly Politics

politics in Harris County and Texas

Maria Espinoza announces Congressional Run

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From the inbox:

HOUSTON, TEXAS –

For Immediate Release

Contact: Melissa Herrera 832-499-6469
[email protected]

Maria Espinoza, a Houston Republican and National Anti-illegal Immigration Leader, Announces Congressional Run

Houston Republican and national anti-illegal immigration leader Maria Espinoza filed today as a candidate for Texas’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. John Culberson currently holds the seat.

“Career politicians and Washington bureaucrats are leading America in the wrong direction,” Espinoza said. “We need true conservatives in Congress, people with the boldness to stand for what is right, not just some of the time, but all of the time.”

“I won’t just talk like a conservative during the election season,” Espinoza said. “I am a proven champion for Constitutional governance, individual liberty and the Rule of Law. I have boldly faced down attacks from the Liberal Left, and even Establishment figures in my own party, to speak the truth about the crises facing our country, especially on the issues of border security and immigration.”

“I will take that same strength of conviction to Washington, standing up for our conservative values and American families,” Espinoza said.

Leadership Record

Espinoza is the Co-founder and National Director for The Remembrance Project (www.TheRemembranceProject.org), a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation, that advocates for the families of Americans who have been killed by illegal aliens. On May 7, 2014, she faced down Eric Holder, Obama’s first notorious Attorney General, and in a separate private meeting, she met with U.S. Department to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson. Her message: Obama must enforce current laws on immigration to protect American families from the illegal criminal and terrorist invasion across our border. Both meetings were attended by family members of slain Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, who was murdered with a weapon identified as allegedly being from the illegal Obama/Holder “Fast & Furious” gun-running debacle.

In June of this year, in response to the national media’s mis-reprentation of Hispanic Americans’ allegiance to America, Maria envisioned and innaugurated a new initiative, America First Latinos (www.AmericaFirstLatinos.org), an organization giving a voice to patriotic, conservative Americans of Latino heritage who favor strict border enforcement.

Maria has appeared before numerous Texas House and Senate Committees and work groups, spoken in many state Capitols and established Remembrance Project affiliates in over 30 states. She is the former President of Eagle Forum – Houston.

A 6th generation Texan on her mother’s side, Espinoza’s father was born in Mexico and legally emigrated to Texas in the mid 1950’s. Espinoza was an All-American Track Star at Abilene Christian University and studied Business Administration. She eventually settled in Houston, starting a career in the legal and real estate fields. She and her husband Tim, a civil engineer, now live in west Houston, and they have three adult children.

Career Politician Opponent

Espinoza’s opponent, John Culberson, has been in Washington since 2001. Culberson has spent virtually his entire adult life in politics, winning election to the Texas State House while he was still a law student, then jumping directly from the Texas Legislature to Congress.

“Culberson is now part of the problem in Washington, not the solution,” Espinoza said. “Fourteen years in Congress is long enough. Conservatives can no longer count on Culberson.”

Culberson’s Conservative Review Liberty Score is 62{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986}, a D-minus rating that Espinoza says is very much deserved.

Espinoza cited Culberson’s absence in the fight on key issues, from runaway spending and debt, to stopping amnesty and sanctuary cities for illegal aliens, to defunding Planned Parenthood. All of these votes are cited on Espinoza’s website, www.MariaforAmerica.com

“Culberson just isn’t working any more. In fact, last year, he missed the second most votes of any Texas Congressman and was among the bottom ten percent of all members of Congress for missed votes,” Espinoza said.

“It’s time for new energy, fresh commitment and strong conservative values in our Congressman,” Espinoza said. “It’s time for a bold new leader who will fight the tough fights, who will stand up and be counted for our conservative values. That’s the leader I will be.”

The Remembrance Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Your donation will help us build more Stolen Lives Quilts, continue revealing the truth and placing American families first.

The Remembrance Project

The Remembrance Project
501(c)(3)
PO Box 440548
Houston, TX 77244-0548

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The Remembrance Project
PO Box 440548
Houston, TX 77244
US

 

Ahoy Sylvester Turner

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bill-king-friends-on-hard-times1

Bill King is a sailor. While I have never sailed with him, I am pretty sure that he has always returned to the dock with all his crew and passengers.

On the other hand, Sylvester Turner’s client “disappeared” in Galveston Bay and was later found in a Spanish prison…after the insurance paid on the life insurance claim. During Sylvester’s first campaign for Houston mayor in 1991, Wayne Dolcefino found him living in a house with Dwight Thomas (since the home Turner owned with his wife was outside the city). Dwight had introduced Sylvester to a man named Sylvester Foster – a “male model” and “hairdresser.” Turner prepared a will for Foster who then went missing from a boat in Galveston Bay and then worked to probate the will and have Foster declared dead in order to collect the life insurance funds. It is a story of insurance fraud but more importantly it is a story of character. Read on.

During his second race for mayor in 2003, Sylvester Turner taught Dave Wilson a trick or two. In 2003, Doris Hubbard, a campaign consultant for Sylvester’s 1991 failed bid for mayor, paid Brenda Flores to recruit a black Bill White to run against the white Bill White. An Acres Homes political organizer paid a white, rabble-rousing democratic political operative to recruit a guy with the same name to mislead and confuse voters so the black liberal dude could win his second mayoral bid. Would the white Bill White have a claim under the Sylvester Turner supported HERO ordinance? I love this stuff. It does not end here.

As you know, Bob Lanier beat Sylvester Turner in the 1991 mayor’s race. On Lanier’s inauguration day, Turner’s wife, Cheryl Gillum Turner, filed for divorce. On April 19, 1994, Cheryl Turner, a ten year veteran of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, was deposed in Sylvester’s lawsuit against Wayne Dolcefino and Channel 13. During the divorce, Ms. Turner, an experienced attorney, signed an affidavit recounting Sylvester’s trysts (which she now recants). Sylvester has made his ex-wife an issue as he brought her out to refute the allegations made in her own affidavit and deposition.

On May 19, 2005, Cheryl Turner was indicted by a Harris County Grand Jury for misapplication of fiduciary property – or stealing between $100,000 and $200,000 of client funds. After a year and a half of court appearances, on September 9, 2006, Cheryl Turner pled guilty to the second degree felony and was sentenced to ten years in prison. A few months later, Turner was released and placed on a ten year probation (to end in January 2017) with a condition that Turner pay $63,000 in restitution to the complainant. On December 15, 2005, the Texas Supreme Court accepted Turner’s resignation from the State Bar of Texas. That order lists nine complainants and over $180,000 in stolen funds.

In May 2012, Turner’s attorney filed a motion asking the court to subtract $30,000 paid to the complainant in the criminal case by the State Bar of Texas.

$63,000

-$30,000 (State Bar of Texas)

                         

$33,000

-$14,859 (approximate restitution paid by Turner from January 2006 – May 2012)

                         

$18,141 (restitution owed)

A few months later, in December 2012, Marc Brown signed an order terminating Turner’s probation – four years early. Why was Turner’s restitution reduced by money paid by the State Bar of Texas? Was Turner able to pay $18,141 from May – December 2012? Was the probation terminated before Turner paid all the restitution owed? Was Turner treated differently than other thieves?

Over the years, Sylvester Turner has closely aligned himself with special interest groups including public employee unions. We know that the police and fire unions endorsed Sylvester Turner for mayor even before this election season began. This should furrow your brow.Clifford Costello

Good citizens of the city should also question Turner’s alignment with people like Stephen “king of conflicts” Costello and Cindy Clifford. Following the general election, Costello was quick to endorse Sylvester: “Sylvester and I agree that ReBuild Houston [READ: RAIN TAX] is a good baseline infrastructure program that can and must be improved to meet the needs and expectations of Houstonians.” I was not surprised to hear Costello continue to support his rain tax. The remainder of Costello’s statement should cause Houstonians great alarm: “Sylvester Turner is the best candidate to connect all of Houston through multi-modal transportation, and I look forward to working with him on critical transportation issues like commuter rail.” I fully expect Turner, if elected, to appoint Costello as the Chair of METRO. In a time when our city is in dire financial straits, the father of our rain tax needs to quickly exit stage left. The connection between Turner and Costello should cause Houstonians to run to the polls for Bill King.

Parker and Clifford
Parker and Clifford

Turner is also very close to Cindy Clifford – a “lobbyist” and “strategic marketing specialist.” Recent stories have questioned Clifford’s failed adherence to the city’s procurement and lobbying rules. After Clifford’s client received the latest airport contract earlier this year, Clifford received a citation for shoving a fellow lobbyist at City Hall. There is a reason why Clifford’s Twitter feed is filled with Turner stories. She and her buddies (like Annise Parker) are scared to death that Bill King could come in and make the city’s politics honest.

This is one of the most important city elections of my lifetime. When you think about the upcoming race, think about the massive cronyism machine that will be cranking down at City Hall with a Turner administration. Sylvester Turner as mayor could mean the death of a once great city. The very people who have bankrupted the city are desperate to get Turner elected. If Turner is elected, there is only one thing to do – abandon ship!

Jared Woodfill: Move the 2016 Texas GOP Convention

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Brilliant move by Jared Woodfill:

jared-woodfill-faith-family-freedom-banner

Time to Take a Stand and
Move the 2016 Republican Party of Texas Convention from Dallas
By Jared Woodfill

On Tuesday the Dallas City Council approved an aggressive and dangerous bathroom ordinance that allows men into women’s bathrooms. The bathroom language comes just one week after Houstonians overwhelmingly rejected a similar ordinance, Houston Proposition 1-Bathroom Ordinance. It is outrageous that one week after Houston voters rejected the idea that it is ok for a man to enter a woman’s bathroom, the Dallas City Council would pass the same provision.

It should be noted that without public input, the Dallas City Council approved the controversial language in a late night closed-door meeting. The new language clearly allows biological males who identify as females, including registered sex offenders, to have access to women’s bathrooms, locker rooms and shower rooms. Like the Houston Bathroom Ordinance, the new version of the Dallas ordinance is a threat to safety and freedom and allows the government to fine private small business owners for taking principled stands. It is time for us to take a stand!

The brazen move pushed by the radical LGBT political movement comes just one week after Houston voters decisively said “no” to a radical, expansive bathroom ordinance and power grab that threatened the safety and liberty of Houston residents. The Houston Bathroom Ordinance was voted down in a historic vote, 61{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} – 39{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986}.

Throughout the Houston campaign, the opposition argued that rejection of the Bathroom Ordinance would result in, among other things, conventions leaving Houston. We as a Republican Party now have an opportunity to send a message to the Mayor of Dallas and its City Council who are willing to sacrifice the safety of our wives, daughters and mothers on the altar of political correctness. We as a Republican Party have an opportunity to send a loud and clear message to the radical left by moving our 2016 Republican Party of Texas Convention from Dallas to another city. We should not reward Dallas with our business when its leaders brazenly reject the principles embodied in our 2014 Republican Party of Texas Platform. The Dallas Mayor and City Council sent us a clear message on Tuesday – they do not respect our values. It is now time for us to send a clear message and move the 2016 Convention from Dallas to another city.

I am asking you to call on the Republican Party of Texas to move the 2016 Republican State Convention from its planned location in Dallas to another city.

Please encourage the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) to protest the Dallas City Council measure by moving the Republican Party State Convention scheduled to be held in Dallas from May 12-14. We must put our principles and the safety of Republican women ahead of convenience. Dallas’ elected representatives on City Council have shown obvious contempt for the values that we as Texas Republicans and conservatives hold most dear and we must show them that there is a price for their contempt. I suggest that the convention be moved to a city where our Republican women are in no danger of government-sanctioned invasion of their most private spaces by the opposite sex, some of whom could be sexual predators.

Houston would be an excellent choice for the RPT State Convention considering the voters’ 61-39 vote on November 3rd rejecting men in women’s bathrooms. It would also counter the opposition’s argument that the Bathroom Ordinances defeat will hurt the Houston economy. Please join me in encouraging the Republican Party of Texas to move the 2016 RPT Convention from Dallas.

Contact Information for the Republican Party of Texas:
http://www.texasgop.org/contact/

Contact Information for the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) members:
http://www.texasgop.org/leadership-directory/state-republican-executive-committee/

Please let your voice be heard on this issue.

Web – Email – Facebook
Message From Jared Woodfill
To inform on conservative issues and activism in Houston, Harris County and Texas
Pd pol ad by The Elect Jared Woodfill Campaign – Larry Hicks Treasurer

 

Absolutely freaking brilliant. Turn the losers’ argument against them. Houston Mayor Annise Parker thinks there will be economic sanctions against Houston because we crushed her dumbass, unnecessary, divisive law? Well, let’s reverse that formula and see what happens when when yet another city’s leadership wants to force something on the citizens. Brilliant.

It’s also a brilliant move in Woodfill’s campaign to be the leader of the Texas GOP. The current interim dude, Tom Mechler, has not been impressive to put it mildly. He’s so out of touch he claimed in an email that Harris County GOP Chair Paul Simpson “led the fight against HERO”. I don’t know what universe Mechler is living in but sitting on the sidelines and not lifting a finger to help is hardly the mark of leadership.

The Harris County GOP is having its last Executive Committee meeting of the year this coming Monday, November 16th. A resolution supporting Woodfill’s call to move the convention will be introduced. We need to pass it unanimously.

I’ll also point you to an Op-Ed by Woodfill and Dr. Steve Hotze in the Houston Chronicle, Defeating HERO: We were defending our culture and protecting women’s well-being. As far as I’m concerned, it is a bit too conciliatory and doesn’t take the proponents of the ordinance to task for their many lies and overall nasty conduct. I hope they don’t think this is over because the proponents are already talking about reintroducing it at the last city council meeting of the year on December 15th, AFTER the runoff election on December 12th.

Don’t forget to hashtag your thoughts on this with #boycottdallas! 😉

 

Will Houstonians feel safe with Sylvester Turner as their next Mayor?

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Border security was and is the most important issue to most Texans and now new information has emerged about a border security funding debate. During the 84th Legislative session Houston Mayoral candidate and State Representative Sylvester Turner led the effort to deny Texas Department of Public Safety $92.4 million in funding for border security equipment.

From the inbox (emphasis mine):

“Texas State Representative Tony Dale brought an amendment to the state’s budget bill (HB 1) that increased border funding for the Department of Public Safety to the tune of $92,000,000. Dale’s amendment pulled $41.5 million dollars from the General Revenue Fund and $50.9 million dollars from the Health and Human Services Commissions for Strategy.

“The Republican Caucus supported Rep. Dales’ amendment while Democrats opposed it. Representative Sylvester Turner motioned to table the amendment and it (the amendment) was defeated with the help of the entire Democrat caucus and 26 Republicans.”

Houston Mayoral candidate Sylvester Turner led the effort to defeat additional equipment funding for border security that would have a positive impact on reducing Houston’s and neighboring Katy, Baytown and Channelview’s notoriety as one of 13 Texas sanctuary cities.

Facepalm

Source: here

And with U.S. 59 through Rosenberg, Sugar Land and Fort Bend County—the human smuggling, drug smuggling highway leading to and through Houston—Houston voters need to ask themselves if they’ll feel safe with Sylvester Turner as their next mayor.

Driver charged in hit-and-run accident

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A 45-year old Houston man is out on $30,000 bond after he was charged with failure to stop and render aid after he was involved in a deadly accident on Holzwarth Road in the early morning hours of October 5, 2015.

Nolan Esguerra, the driver of a 2005 Ford F-150 pickup, struck a motorcyclist in the 20081 block of Holzwarth Road near the shopping center housing the AMC Spring 10 Movie Theater and Big Texas Dance Hall and Saloon. Esguerra fled the scene and was subsequently located 1.5 miles from the crash scene.

According to an abc13 news account, the Harris County Precinct 4 Constables Office confirmed one person died at the scene.

As a condition of bond Esguerra was ordered not to operate a motor vehicle and to obtain a real-time portable breath device.

 

Greater Houston Puppetship admits under HER Ordinance, disagreeable speech will result in “relatively modest fines”

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Did Greg Groogan of Fox26 let the cat out of the bag over HER Ordinance? In this October 1 report titled “Rejecting HER Ordinance will damage economy says Greater Houston Puppetship” , Groogan accidentally disclosed the opposite of the story headline —approval of HER Ordinance would damage businesses by subjecting them to speech investigation & fines by City speech police authorities over employment, business and housing decisions and $20.00 rooftop cover charge disputes on behalf of the Perpetually Aggrieved.

Greg Groogan reported:

“some business owners have expressed fear that HER Ordinance will open a Pandora’s Box of expensive discrimination claims”.

Bob Harvey of the Greater Houston Puppetship Partnership was quick to dismiss those claims as “overblown”:

“But Harvey and the partnership say those concerns are overblown because the allegations will be handled quickly and if verified will result in modest fines.”

You mean like the fines facing the Gaslamp Bar after they first get through the “quickly handled” settlement conference (gaslamp Complaint) scheduled for 3 1/2 months from now on February 19, 2016?

The Houston Press wrote of Perpetually Aggrieved Progressives who filed a suspicious lawsuit (Ball v Texas Guardian) accusing a bar employee of a heinous speech crime—communicating the policy of a $20.00 cover charge to gain access to the 3rd floor rooftop terrace at the Gaslamp.

And here’s the money quote that lays bare the naked truth about one aspect of this horrific blasphemy ordinance that if passed, would impose speech investigations & speech fines to spare the feelings of Perpetually Aggrieved Progressives (emphasis mine):

“When asked how (about?) their claim against Gaslamp with Proposition 1, Tagtmeier said;, “We’d have been able to file a complaint and there would have been an investigation done by the local authorities and they would be able to fine them as well…”

Oh and should Gaslamp close before the lawsuit is over with, the attorney of the Perpetually Aggrieved plans to still go after the assets.

The closer it gets to Election Day and the more I hear about HER Ordinance, the more it reeks of grievance-mongering Progressive politics— voter-approved government policing of speech, speech investigations, fining disagreeable speech to spare the feelings of Progressives who only preach the tolerance of diversity & thought they never practice—and lawsuits designed to encourage other opportunistic, rent-extracting money-grabbers to get their piece of the settlement pie.

And why are the three Perpetually Aggrieved Progressives now in the new HER Ordinance TV ad?

BTW—you know who this video is for.