Candidate Dave Wilson prevailed in the HCC Trustee District II election but that’s not stopping Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan from preventing Wilson from taking the oath of office until questions about Wilson’s residence can be resolved.
From the Houston Chronicle:
“A judge ordered that newly elected Houston Community College trustee David Wilson not take the oath of office until questions can be resolved over whether he lives in a commercial warehouse building he claimed as his official residence to run for the office.”
“State District Judge Elaine Palmer signed a restraining order that prevents Wilson from moving ahead on the governing body pending the outcome of a hearing set for Jan. 10.”
I don’t think incumbent Democrats and Republicans want this issue to be discussed openly and honestly, which of course means it should.
So what’s Ryan’s beef with Wilson?
“Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan said it is unclear if Wilson resides at 5600 West 34th Street., which is the address he used in order to be eligible to run for the college district’s Place II position.”
Excuse me?
Remember Nick Lampson? Democrats didn’t have a problem with his “residence” on April 3, 2012.
“Lampson used an address in Stafford in Brazoria County that had belonged to his grandparents. He also retained his Beaumont address where he now lives. Lampson was defeated for re-election in that heavily Republican district.”
See? The problem is the voters of HCC District II elected Dave Wilson; it’s other HCC Board members that are afraid.
“Wilson’s attorney, Keith Gross, questioned what is motivating the probe, including whether other board members fear Wilson will uncover corruption in their ranks.”
I posted a copy of the TRO here.
Happy New Year!
There are at least a half dozen other officeholders whose residence also is open to question. Ryan should treat the whole lot equally. But the Lampson analogy is not a strong one, as congressmen must only live within their state, and even if Lampson were ruled a resident of Beaumont he would have been eligible to serve in office.
The Lampson analogy and the recent TRO brought by Roy Morales against Michael Kubosh, along with this one against Wilson are all based on the same principle; challenge the residency of the candidate.
I would like to congratulate Dave Wilson for being sworn in as HCC Trustee.
Stafford is 90 percent Fort Bend County, 10 percent Harris County and NO percent Brazoria County.
You’re only required to be a registered voter in the state to be elected to Congress. There is no requirement that you reside in the district, like there is with HCC. If you’re going to be an empty hack for corrupt liars like Dave Wilson, be good at it.
If Wilson loses the election contest will we see Greg Abbott then prosecute for voter fraud?