Tag: Elections
HISD vendor state Rep. Borris Miles offered trustees all-expenses-paid Costa Rican trip, email shows
by Lynn Walsh on Jul.24, 2011, under Investigations, What's New
An investigation for Texas Watchdog:
HISD vendor state Rep. Borris Miles offered trustees all-expenses-paid Costa Rican trip, email shows
Thursday, Jun 16, 2011, 06:27PM CST
By Lynn Walsh, Trent Seibert and Jennifer PeeblesA state representative who services the Houston Independent School District’s flood insurance policy — and who is a close friend of two HISD trustees — offered to arrange an all-expenses-paid trip to Costa Rica to a majority of HISD’s trustees, according to an e-mail obtained by Texas Watchdog.
State Rep. Borris Miles, a Houston Democrat, offered in November to take most of the trustees to Costa Rica, saying he was arranging the free trip at the behest of the government of that Central American nation, the email shows.
It also shows Miles also offered to allow each trustee to bring along a guest, and wrote that the Costa Rican government would waive deductibles on “medical tourism” procedures, effectively offering the trustees and their guests deep discounts on the services.
It was not immediately clear whether any of the HISD trustees took Miles up on the offer. Three trustees reached by phone Thursday afternoon said they didn’t remember getting the e-mail. A fourth said he deleted it.
“I remember receiving it and thinking it was strange and deleting it,” said trustee Harvin Moore.
The revelation of the trip offer comes on the heels of Texas Watchdog’s recent story revealing that HISD trustees president Paula Harris, a close friend of Miles, voted on contracts that included work for a company run by another close friend, Pearland businesswoman Nicole West.
Houston ISD, others to push legislature for upfront payments for public records
by Lynn Walsh on Jan.14, 2011, under What's New
A story written for Texas Watchdog:
Houston ISD, others to push legislature for upfront payments for public records
Monday, Jan 10, 2011, 10:51AM CST
By Lynn WalshWant public records from your local school system? You might want to be ready to fork over the cash before you get the records.
Houston’s public school system will be among the Texas governments asking legislators to allow them to require people to pay up front for public records requests before the district makes the records public– something not currently allowed by Texas’ open records law.
This isn’t the first time local government agencies in Texas have asked for such a change, an open government advocate said.
“In recent years, HISD — and, it’s my understanding, other districts, too — have seen an increase in public information requests, and although we do not have a problem complying, we felt that the district should be adequately compensated to reflect the time and resources we spend on complying with these requests,” Rebecca Flores, the Houston Independent School District’s government relations director, said in an e-mail.
Lawmakers have also asked school districts to identify situations in which the districts are legally obligated to do something, but for which the state does not provide the funding to cover the costs, Flores said. The state legislature convenes next week in Austin.
Right now the law requires a government agency, like HISD, to “provide a requestor with an itemized statement of charges” if the request will cost the district more than $40. This statement, according to the law, is “to be provided before copies are made … the itemized statement must be provided free of charge.
The Houston district also wants the ability to ignore requests from anyone who still owes money from a previous records request.
“The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas believes there are fair and reasonable cost allowances already on the books,” said Keith Elkins, the foundation’s executive director. “Providing public information should not be about making a profit but about providing quality customer service to taxpayers, who already pay HISD’s bills.”
According to the legislative agenda trustees unanimously approved in October, the school district wants legislators to:
“Allow districts to charge the actual costs for the production of all materials, including the recovery of actual costs of personnel time, to comply with open records requests. Districts should be able to require actual payment of costs prior to compliance and failure to pay after committing to pay relieves districts of any obligation to comply with additional open records requests made by that entity until past balances are paid.”
Right now the Texas Public Information Act requires school districts, like all government agencies, to only charge what the state attorney general allows them to, unless they submit a request for an exemption, said Joe Larsen, a Houston attorney who is also a board member for the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas.
“Governmental bodies must provide a detailed cost estimate for any charges in excess of $40,” Larsen said. “The requestor must either confirm within ten days that he/she will accept the charges or the request is considered withdrawn. As a practical matter, the requestor must pay before he/she gets the stuff.”
Texas public information laws outline specific costs for some items like a DVD, which is $3, and a CD which is $1. Other items like a tape cartridge or magnetic tape can be charged at the actual cost of the item, according to the law.
The law also allows HISD and other government groups to charge for computer programming costs and the labor costs associated with gathering the information.
According to Elkins, this is not the first time government agencies have gone to the Texas legislature to try exempt their records from the law’s cost provisions. “The bill is worded slightly differently each time, but the bottom line is the same: They want to make a profit from the sale of electronic copies of their records to the public,” Elkins said.
HISD is also asking that school districts be allowed the same exemption from infrastructure fees that state agencies colleges enjoy, like the new Houston drainage fee, Proposition 1, passed by Harris County voters in 2010. HISD trustees took a stand against the fee last year and said it would cost the district 70 teaching positions.
The 82nd session of the Texas Legislature is set to begin next Tuesday, Jan. 11.
Do you think government agencies should be allowed to charge upfront costs for public records? We want to know what you think. Contact Lynn Walsh at Lynn@TexasWatchdog.org, 713-228-2850 or on Twitter @LWalsh.
Local Democrat questions GOP turkey-and-bike give away at Houston public school
by Lynn Walsh on Jan.14, 2011, under What's New
A story written for Texas Watchdog:
Local Democrat questions GOP turkey-and-bike give away at Houston public school
Thursday, Jan 06, 2011, 05:55PM CST
By Lynn WalshA program by local Republicans to give free turkeys and bikes to kids at a Houston elementary school crossed the line into a political event and should be stopped, a local Democratic activist and blogger says.
The Harris County Republican Party has donated turkeys to students at J.R. Harris Elementary in southeast Houston for the past nine years, according to a complaint filed with the district by John Cobarruvias of Houston.
“There needs to be an investigation,” said Cobarruvias, who has filed a formal complaint with the Houston Independent School District. “Bringing candidates into a school and having the students make banners for the Republican candidates is not OK.”
According to county GOP newsletters, more than 200 bicycles were given to third, fourth and fifth graders who passed all three sections of state achievement tests. The bikes were distributed in May 2009.
In December 2009, the party continued its “tradition of donating holiday turkeys to economically disadvantaged families” at Harris, according to one newsletter.
“First and foremost this activity must stop immediately,” Cobarruvias wrote in a letter to HISD trustees and Superintendent Terry Grier. “Partisan political activity in a public school is illegal. And second, I am requesting the HISD board to call for an investigation into this activity to determine if rules and/or laws were broken with appropriate action being taken.”
HISD Trustee Manuel Rodriguez said he has been told by the district that nothing was against the law.
“After checking with the district, there was probably some gray area, but nothing that was illegal,” Rodriguez told Texas Watchdog. “They were not handing out GOP literature. They made posters, but that was not, per se, a political event.”
Cobarruvias, who blogs at Bay Area Houston, disagrees. “We cannot have them listen to the president of the United States, but they can bring their candidates into the school and everything is OK?” he asked, referring to how some parents in Houston and elsewhere objected to allowing public school students to hear a live talk by President Obama on the importance of education in 2009 . “It’s about more than political differences.” (For an opposing blogger viewpoint on the giveaways, here’s a piece sharply critical of Cobarruvias at Rhymes with Right.)
In an e-mail to Cobarruvias, Sam Sarabia, head of HISD’s elementary schools said:
“There was no such activity this year at JR Harris. As you are aware, we do accept partnerships which are willing to assist our children. At no times do we allow political banners inside the school or promote one political party over another one.”
“No turkeys were given out this school year,” Sarabia told Texas Watchdog. He said HISD would accept bicycle donations from the county GOP again this year or in the future.
Dem Cries Foul Over Free GOP Turkeys: MyFoxHOUSTON.com
“At this point, yes,” Sarabia said. “This is a 10-year partnership. If they were to offer any incentives for student performance, we would accept them. It is almost like a scholarship for these students,” he said.
In the past, he said, the bicycles were handed out during school assemblies. But because of a new state law, now and in the future, the bike donations or other incentives for students in HISD would be handled with a voucher system.
“If there are 100 students at the end of the year that qualify for an incentive, each would receive a letter and a coupon for the bike in a sealed envelope,” Sarabia said. “In the past, yes, there was an assembly, but not anymore.”
At press time, neither the Harris County Republican Party nor the principal of J.R. Harris Elementary responded to phone calls from Texas Watchdog. However, blogger Rhymes With Right has published here a spirited defense of the GOP incentive program.
Do you think it’s acceptable for a local political group to give turkeys and bikes to elementary school students? Texas Watchdog wants to hear from you. Contact Lynn Walsh, Lynn@TexasWatchdog.org, 713-228-2850 or on Twitter @LWalsh.
Juliet Stipeche bests Judith Cruz — by 44 votes — in Houston ISD board race
by Lynn Walsh on Dec.27, 2010, under What's New
A story written for Texas Watchdog:
Juliet Stipeche bests Judith Cruz — by 44 votes — in Houston ISD board race
Wednesday, Dec 01, 2010, 04:17PM CST
By Lynn WalshLocal lawyer Juliet Stipeche will fill the vacant seat on the Houston Independent School District board of trustees.
RazorRazor-thin margin: 44 votes decide school board seat in nation’s 7th-largest school districtA graduate of HISD’s High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Stipeche defeated Judith Cruz by less than 50 votes in Tuesday’s run-off election. According to HISD, Stipeche received 1,048 votes and Cruz received 1,004, for a 51%-49% split in votes cast.
Stipeche will fill the District 8 seat on the HISD board, which was left vacant when former Diana Davilla resigned from her position in July with more than a year left in her term. Stipeche is expected to be sworn in next Thursday.
Cruz and Stipeche were forced into a runoff after neither candidate managed to receive more than 50% of the total votes in the Nov. 2 election. The two women outpolled competitors Dorothy Olmos, Peter Schwethelm and Roberto Centeno.
Check out the links below for more information on the HISD District 8 race:
* Juliet Stipeche campaign finance report.
* Judith Cruz campaign finance report.
* Roberto Centeno campaign finance report.
* Peter Schwethelm campaign finance report.
* Dorothy Olmos campaign finance report.
* Video: Cruz, Stipeche and Centeno discuss parent involvement at a candidate forum sponsored by Parents for Public Schools of Houston.
* Parents for Public Schools of Houston Q&A with candidates.Contact Lynn Walsh at Lynn@TexasWatchdog.org, 713-228-2850 or on Twitter @LWalsh.
Juliet Stipeche, Judith Cruz head to runoff in Houston ISD school board race
by Lynn Walsh on Nov.09, 2010, under What's New
A story written for Texas Watchdog:
Juliet Stipeche, Judith Cruz head to runoff in Houston ISD school board race
Wednesday, Nov 03, 2010, 12:11PM CST
By Lynn WalshA runoff election is expected later this month in the Houston school board District 8 race between a local lawyer and stay-at-home mom.
Lawyer Juliet Stipeche and former teacher/now full-time mom Judith Cruz garnered more votes than any of their competitors, but neither reached the 50 percent threshold required to outright win the Houston Independent School District vacant trustee position.
A run-off between the two will take place on Nov. 30.
Cruz led Tuesday’s election with more than 30 percent of the votes. Stipeche earned close to 21 percent.
Dorothy Olmos earned more than 14 percent of the votes, Peter Schwethelm earned close to 13 percent and Roberto Centeno earned seven percent.
A sixth candidate, Cheryl Moodie, who dropped out of the race due to residency issues, earned 11 percent of the votes Tuesday. According to the Houston Chronicle, Moodie moved to Houston from Louisiana earlier this year but has not lived in HISD’s District 8 area for six months, a requirement for candidates.
The five candidates collectively raised more than $60,000 in campaign contributions last month. Stipeche and Cruz brought in the most money — Stipeche with more than $30,500 in contributions, and Cruz with more than $25,000. Dorothy Olmos and former teachers Roberto Centeno and Peter Schwethelm also ran for the HISD trustee position.
The District 8 seat was left vacant in July when Diana Davila stepped down from the position more than a year before her term was to end.
Check out the links below for more information on the HISD District 8 race:
* Juliet Stipeche campaign finance report.
* Judith Cruz campaign finance report.
* Roberto Centeno campaign finance report.
* Peter Schwethelm campaign finance report.
* Dorothy Olmos campaign finance report.
* Video: Cruz, Stipeche and Centeno discuss parent involvement at a candidate forum sponsored by Parents for Public Schools of Houston.
* Parents for Public Schools of Houston Q&A with candidates.Texas Watchdog wants to hear from you. Contact Lynn Walsh at Lynn@TexasWatchdog.org, 713-228-2850 or on Twitter @LWalsh.
HISD candidates Juliet Stipeche, Judith Cruz rake in big-bucks contributions from big-name politicos in final push to Election Day
by Lynn Walsh on Oct.31, 2010, under What's New
A story produced for Texas Watchdog:
HISD candidates Juliet Stipeche, Judith Cruz rake in big-bucks contributions from big-name politicos in final push to Election Day
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010, 07:00PM CST
By Lynn WalshFive candidates have collectively raised more than $60,000 this month with hopes of filling the vacant District 8 seat on the Houston school board.
Two candidates, lawyer Juliet Stipeche and teacher Judith Cruz, brought in the most money — Stipeche with more than $30,500 in contributions, and Cruz with more than $25,000.
Dorothy Olmos and former teachers Roberto Centeno and Peter Schwethelm are also running for the Houston Independent School District’s position for District 8, which was left vacant after Diana Davila stepped down in July, more than a year before her term was to end.
The election is week from today. Early voting is going on in Harris County through Friday.
Texas Watchdog has published all of the campaign finance reports for the Oct. 25 filing deadline online for the public to view (just follow the link attached to a candidate’s name in this story or scroll to the bottom of the page for the listing.)
Cruz and Stipeche both received generous donations from some big names in Texas politics and the education community here in Houston.
State Sen. Mario Gallegos, D-Houston, and the Houston Federation of Teachers each donated $10,000 to Stipeche in the last month. Stipeche also received $2,000 from state Rep. (and former Houston City Councilwoman) Carol Alvarado and another $250 from state Rep. Armando Walle.
Former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier and his wife, Elyse, donated $250 to Cruz. Lanier, a Republican and real estate developer, served as the city’s mayor from 1992-98.
Cruz also received a $10,000 donation from the Houston Business Education Coalition PAC. Former HISD Superintendent and U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige and 13 other business and professional leaders are members of the political action committee.
The law firm Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson donated $1,000 to both Cruz and Stipeche. The law firm has received more than $7.2 million from HISD this year and more than $16.5 million since October 2008, according to the HISD check online check register.
Check out the links below for more information on the five candidates running for office:
* Juliet Stipeche campaign finance report.
* Judith Cruz campaign finance report.
* Roberto Centeno campaign finance report.
* Peter Schwethelm campaign finance report.
* Dorothy Olmos campaign finance report.
* Video: Cruz, Stipeche and Centeno discuss parent involvement at a candidate forum sponsored by Parents for Public Schools of Houston.
* Parents for Public Schools of Houston Q&A with candidates.Contact Lynn Walsh at Lynn@TexasWatchdog.org, 713-228-2850 or on Twitter @LWalsh.
Covering Elections: TrentTV | Aired August 24 via newmediatv.org
by Lynn Walsh on Aug.26, 2010, under Video, What's New
A story produced for Texas Watchdog:
Covering Elections: TrentTV | Aired August 24 via newmediatv.org
Tue Aug 24 12:50:00 2010 CST
By Lee Ann O’Neal
Texas Watchdog logoView today’s TrentTV episode on covering elections below. Hosts Mark Lisheron and Jennifer Peebles chatted with our live audience about backgrounding candidates, in-depth profiles, and issues coverage.
Texas Watchdog’s Lynn Walsh, usually behind the camera producing the show, will host the next TrentTV, a live discussion of watchdog stories on schools to air at 11:30 a.m. CST Sept. 28.
newmediatvorg on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free
HISD board president Greg Meyers corrects campaign finance form, reports $1,400 in reimbursements to himself
by Lynn Walsh on Aug.06, 2010, under Investigations, What's New
A story written for Texas Watchdog:
HISD board president Greg Meyers corrects campaign finance form, reports $1,400 in reimbursements to himself
Fri Aug 6 20:31:00 2010 CST
By Lynn WalshHouston Independent School District board president Greg Meyers amended his July campaign finance report today, adding more than $1,400 in reimbursements to himself for phone bills, a day after a Texas Watchdog story that noted the omission.
On the original campaign finance report, Meyers left off more than $1,000 in checks and a withdrawal from the campaign account to Meyers, bank records obtained by Texas Watchdog showed. The campaign checks and withdrawal slip were signed by Meyers.On the cover page of the amended report, Meyers writes:
“I inadvertently omitted some expenditures on schedule F to myself as reimbursement for the properly reported schedule G expenditures. I am filing this corrected report within 14 days of learning of the error; which was yesterday, August 5. I believe my report as originally filed substantially complied with the law.”
Three checks of $250, a $200 check and a $100 deposit were posted to the “Greg Meyers Campaign” account between January and April. In addition to those transactions, in the correction to the campaign finance report Meyers lists a fifth check for $393.16 made out to Meyers from his campaign account on June 23.
Greg MeyersMEYERS
When alerted to the discrepancies Thursday by a reporter, Meyers said the mistake was in not properly listing the checks as a reimbursement for more than $1,500 in AT&T campaign phone bills, which were listed in the initial reportMeyers said that he had never submitted campaign finance reports with reimbursements before and that it was just a filing mistake. He later acknowledged that on his Jan. 15 campaign finance report he had correctly filled out the paperwork to show reimbursements to himself.
Candidates in Texas are required to disclose campaign expenses without exception, though small expenditures do not require the same level of detail as larger ones.
Meyers was elected to the HISD board of education in 2004 and re-elected in 2009. He represents District VI, which includes Sharpstown and Westside high schools and encompasses an area north of Westheimer Road south to Bellfort Street.
Contact Lynn Walsh at 713-228-2850 or lynn@texaswatchdog.org. Follow news about the Houston Independent School District on Twitter. Follow @TexasWatchdog or search #HISD.
HISD board president Greg Meyers fails to report more than $1,000 in campaign finance payments to himself
by Lynn Walsh on Aug.06, 2010, under Investigations, What's New
A story written for Texas Watchdog:
HISD board president Greg Meyers fails to report more than $1,000 in campaign finance payments to himself
Fri Aug 6 02:14:00 2010 CST
By Lynn WalshMore than $1,000 was disbursed from Houston Independent School District board president’s Greg Meyers’ campaign account — to Meyers himself, bank records show — but not a dime of it is listed on his campaign finance report that was filed in July and covers the time period of the checks.
Meyers signed for the cash withdrawal and cut the checks that were dated and cleared the campaign account in January, February, March and April, bank documents obtained by Texas Watchdog show. The failure to report the payments and their purpose is a violation of Texas election law that can carry fines.
“I appreciate you bringing this to my attention, and I am going to be amending this first thing in the morning,” Meyers told Texas Watchdog Thursday afternoon.
Greg MeyersMEYERSMeyers said the payments actually totaled around $1,200 and were reimbursement for $1,514 in AT&T campaign phone bills he had paid. Those phone bills are listed beginning on page 5 of the report.
“I thought that if I put the expenses in both (schedules) F and G, then I would need to put that in the total,” Meyers said. “That would have doubled the amount that was due back to me. That is not my intent.”
The payments included: A cash withdrawal of $100 was posted to the “Greg Meyers Campaign” account by Meyers on Jan. 20. Meyers wrote himself a $250 check dated Feb. 19 that cleared the campaign account three days later. A month later he signed two more checks for $250 each. The checks were written on March 6 and March 31, clearing the account within days. He wrote a subsequent $200 check on April 17.
State campaign finance law permits candidates to reimburse themselves for campaign-related expenses as long as the expenses are itemized and reported — Meyers did so in his January report, which noted the campaign reimbursed him for $550 in meals.
Meyers, who fills out his own campaign finance reports, first said he had never had to fill out the section of the reporting form that tracks personal expenses prior to the July report.
“I looked at the instructions and what it said to do. It was a live-and-learn moment. I have never done any reimbursements like this before.”
But the process for disclosing the payments to himself for phone expenses would have been identical to the one Meyers undertook in January for campaign-related meals.
“I don’t know. I don’t have it in front of me,” Meyers said in a second interview. “But I believe what you are saying and have no reason to doubt you. Obviously, I made a mistake, and I can amend it, and it is a miss on my part.”
Dr. Charles Mullins, the treasurer listed on Meyers’ campaign finance reports since at least 2008, said he has not had contact with Meyers in two or three months. Mullins is the father of Sandie Mullins, Meyers’ ex-wife.
“It was sort of just a title,” Mullins said. “I have never had any working with it.”
Candidates in Texas are required to disclose campaign expenses without exception, though small expenditures do not require the same level of detail as larger ones.
“Some payee would have to be tied to it,” Tim Sorrells, a lawyer at the Texas Ethics Commission, said of a scenario like Meyers’. “It is correct that if someone makes a political expenditure from campaign funds, it needs to be disclosed.”
Meyers was elected to the HISD board of education in 2004 and re-elected in 2009. He represents District VI, which includes Sharpstown and Westside high schools and encompasses an area north of Westheimer Road south to Bellfort Street.
Meyers said he expects his amended report to be available to be viewed Friday at the HISD Hattie Mae White building at 4400 West 18th St.
Contact Lynn Walsh at 713-228-2850 or lynn@texaswatchdog.org. Follow @texaswatchdog on Twitter, or search #HISD, for news about the school district.
Coming soon to Texas Watchdog: A gaping loophole in Texas election law
by Lynn Walsh on Mar.21, 2010, under Video, What's New
A story written for Texas Watchdog:
Coming soon to Texas Watchdog: A gaping loophole in Texas election law
Tue Feb 23 22:31:00 2010 CST
By Trent SeibertWe found a loophole in Texas election law that bowled us over. If used to game the system, it might mean big problems for close races in Texas. Come back later to Texas Watchdog to read the full story.
