Ben Wear has the story, Toll road agency lawyer resigns after bar suspension. Land deal gone bad apparently. The most illuminating thing about the CTRMA in the story is the vetting process for their high ranking employees.
Mobility authority Executive Director Mike Heiligenstein, whose friendship with Nielson goes back two decades to when their children played youth sports together, said he knew nothing about the disputed land deal between Nielson and Wilson.
“It was never brought up during his employment, or before that during the interview process,” Heiligenstein said. “He obviously thought it had been worked out.”
In 2005 Texas Comptroller released a scathing report on the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA), A Need For A Higher Standard, some of which was summarized in the AusChron at the time.
…the Regional Mobility Authority, appointed by regional county commissioners with the approval of the Texas Transportation Commission – the first of several planned RMAs around the state – is an ill-conceived and -executed agency, marked by organizational deficiencies, inadequate accountability to voters, and insufficient safeguards against corruption. Moreover, Strayhorn’s audit found what the report describes as sloppy management practices, apparent “favoritism and self-enrichment” in the appointments to the RMA, excessive budgeting for marketing, and instances of lax expenditure controls (e.g., sloppy handling of expense accounts).
All I can Say is WOW!! We had a great turn out today in support of Mayor Bill White and his run for Governor of Texas! It was a pleasure to have Diana Maldonado as our host and the Williamson County Democratic Party for allowing the use of their office for this event. While I saw a fair number of old faces in attendance, I am overwhelmed at all the new faces!
The WC4BW Team is also thankful that many of the local candidates were on hand as well. This is very inspiring to our team and to the Bill White Campaign as well. The momentum is definitely building and we can do a lot good work between now and the primary, and even more between now and November! Thanks to all of you who attended today, and spread the word. Your help is compounded by the help you recruit in this campaign effort! Let’s make this happen!
We have two candidates vying to be the next Chair of the Williamson County Democratic Party (WCDP). They are Paul Stempko and Gregory S. Windham. The WCDP Communications Committee had the candidates put together their biographical information and their answers to several questions, which can be perused here, In Their Own Words . . .[PDF]. From the questionnaire on why the chair of the WCDP is so important.
The strength of the Texas Democratic Party depends on the hard work of volunteers and political activists
in the county parties. County Democratic parties are the focal points of political campaigns and building the Democratic Party. The people who take leadership roles in their local Democratic Parties are critical to the local, state, and national Democratic Party success.
During each Democratic Party Primary Election, Democrats throughout Texas elect the local leaders of the Democratic Party, including a Precinct Chair for each voting precinct and a County Chair to lead the local party for the next two years. The Precinct Chairs and the County Chair make up the Executive Committee that organizes Democrats in the county to support Democratic candidates, handles the finances of the local party, and runs the primary election.
County Chairs are expected to lead their county’s Executive Committee. In order to do this, they must work closely with candidates, precinct chairs, party activists, and the Texas Democratic Party staff to build a network of volunteers. They provide critical support to Democratic campaigns and are essential to turning out the Democratic vote and winning electoral victories.
The will also be appearing at a candidate forum next Saturday.
“MEET THE CANDIDATES” PUBLIC FORUM
WHO: Candidates running for County Chair of the WCDP
The Candidates are:
Paul Stempko
Gregory Scott Windham
WHEN: Saturday, February 13, 2010, 2:30-4:00
WHERE: Moody’s Restaurant
309 N Hwy 183
Leander, TX 78646
WHY: To become an informed voter!
This is the only event where both candidates are scheduled to publicly present their arguments for why we should elect them.
County Democratic Party Chairs are elected at the Primary Elections.
Your only chance to make your voice heard will be during the March 2, 2010, primary election or during early voting (begins Feb. 16).
Come. Meet them. Mark you calendar now!
SPONSORS:
West Williamson County Democrats
East Williamson County Democratic Club.
Questions?
Contact Karen Carter 512-260-6965;
KarenCarter2008@aol.com
Via Williamson County for Bill White, they are hosting a “Kick Off” event:
Williamson County For Bill White Kick off WITH MAYOR BILL WHITE!!
Please join State Representative Diana Maldonado as she hosts Mayor Bill White for the Williamson County for Bill White Campaign Kickoff!
Date: Saturday, February 6, 2010 Time: 10:30am – 1:00pm Location: Williamson County Democrats Office, 110 North Interstate 35, Suite 170, Round Rock [MAP]
A Houston Chronicle column by Rick Casey (”The revolt of the scientists,” Jan. 31) details behind the scenes wrangling at the Forensic Science Commission meeting on Friday, in which Chairman John Bradley first ejected, then reluctantly allowed in, a documentary camera crew tracking the Willingham case.
But Bradley evicted an Austin-based documentary crew before the meeting started. One of its members called the attorney general’s office in Austin, which sent a message to Barbara Dean, the assistant district attorney who has attended all of the commission’s meetings, providing legal guidance since its inception.An hour and a half into the meeting, Dean, seated behind Bradley, tapped him on the shoulder and quietly spoke into his ear. He announced a 10-minute break, and when the meeting resumed the film crew was in the room.
When I asked Bradley about the matter, he curtly told me to talk to the film crew. I said I had and he replied with annoyance: “Then you know.”
His defensiveness was understandable. Enforcement of the Open Meetings Act is the responsibility of local district attorneys such as himself.
The scientists did fight back as the title to the column suggests.
He gave himself the power to name members and chairmen of three standing committees, including one that would screen all complaints submitted to the commission.
He would also name members and chairmen of panels assigned to each case accepted for investigation.
But led by Dr. Sarah Kerrigan, the Scotland Yard-trained head of the forensic science program at Sam Houston State University, and Dr. Garry Adams, veterinary pathologist at Texas A&M, the seven scientists politely but firmly rebelled. The chairman could propose the committees and panels, but the full commission would approve them.
In Wednesday’s column I’ll explain how the scientists beat back an attempt by a visibly frustrated Bradley to turn the science commission into a legalistic briar patch.
And they won a commitment from Bradley that the Willingham matter would be on the agenda for the next meeting in April — in Fort Worth.
I’m still doubtful that Bradley will actually let a hearing happen on the Willingham case before November. The damage for Perry, regarding this case was never the GOP Primary. If the Willingham case is going to hurt Perry, it’s in the general election.
But it sure appears tough out there, in the sunlight, for the Williamson County DA who is not used to being challenged here at home. Getting out of Williamson County, where media scrutiny actually exists, is much, much different.
Via Williamson County for Bill White, they are hosting a “Kick Off” event:
Williamson County For Bill White Kick off WITH MAYOR BILL WHITE!!
Please join State Representative Diana Maldonado as she hosts Mayor Bill White for the Williamson County for Bill White Campaign Kickoff!
Date: Saturday, February 6, 2010 Time: 10:30am – 1:00pm Location: Williamson County Democrats Office, 110 North Interstate 35, Suite 170, Round Rock [MAP]
Gordon and attorney Roy Minton, who is defending [Alyssa] Eacono in the lawsuit Gordon filed earlier this month, each confirmed Thursday that the third and possibly final round in this GOP slugfest will be played out in front of a jury.
“We decided we had to go to a jury trial,” Gordon said, recalling the unfavorable ruling he received Jan. 19 from visiting District Court Judge James Clawson. “We’d rather stand our chances in front of a jury of citizens.”
[...]
Gordon and Minton each said that due to scheduling and time needed for preparation, the case might not go to trial until after the primary has already been held.
How all this will affect primary election results remains to be seen.
Grits has a wrap-up of Friday’s Forensic Sciences Commission in Harlingen where Williamson County DA continued his delaying tactics in the Willingham case.
That was really quite a display. I’ll give him this. John Bradley came into Harlingen with an agenda; he was on his A-game when other commissioners were back on their heels and didn’t know what to expect; and as a result he got what he wanted out of the meeting: Delay discussing anything substantive about flawed forensic science and a new “process” in which he can bury the Willingham case in committee until after the November election.
It was a pretty brazen performance, but judging by minimalist MSM media coverage, the Williamson County DA clearly made a good bet that – by moving the meeting to the Rio Grande Valley on a Friday and waiting to produce the rules until the last minute – he would get away with such bold hectoring of the commission. It’s not a great start to Bradley’s relationship with his fellow commissioners, but he’s obviously not there to make friends. He’s there to delay the commission’s work and to impede the Willingham investigation by hook or by crook. And he’s succeeding.
And last Rep. John Carter is still running around taking credit for projects he voted against. From an LTE from The Cameron Herald.
Congressman John Carter ought to be ashamed of himself. He showed up in Rockdale last week brandishing one of those larger-than-life “checks” from the federal government, as if he personally made sure struggling and laid off Alcoa workers would be able to get the jobs training they need.
The funny thing is, Rep. Carter voted against the legislation that authorized the $2.5 million that funds the jobs package for our area. He actively campaigned against it and now the hypocrite wants to take credit for legislation he voted against.
There have been three new voting precincts created, and several more adjusted, in Williamson County for 2010. The changes occur only in commissioner precincts 2 and 4, Cedar Park and Hutto respectively. From the Elections page on the county web site.
January 1, 2010 Redistricting changes are effective. Early in 2009 we identified three voter precincts that had over 5000 registered voters to reduce the number of voters we began the redistricting process. Three new precincts were created 201, 402 and 403 additionally boundary adjustments were made to precincts 254, 273, 277 and 293. [Emphasis added].
They have links to the new maps and orders of the changes too, [All links are .pdf files].
According to Rick Barreon, Williamson County Elections administrator, changes to precincts were made as a result of Precinct 426’s violation of Texas Election Code because it contained more than 5,000 registered voters as of May 12, 2009, when the changes were adopted by Hutto.
The document states that after consultations with Precinct 4 County Commissioner Ron Morrison, and the chairs of the Republican and Democratic parties, Bill Fairbrother and Richard Torres, recommendation was made to adjust the boundaries to election precincts 420, 424, and 426 to create precincts 402 and 403.
The county states that new voter registration cards were mailed late last year reflecting these changes. There is a conflicting message regarding a mailed notice to all affected voters. The county web site states, ” voters will also be mailed a notice the first week of January notifying them of the change and their polling place”. While Candi Zaccheus, county Elections Geographic Information System analyst, in the RRL article above states that “..a notification would be sent out to residents about precinct changes”.
It’s highly recommended that anyone that lives in the Cedar Park, or Hutto areas double check their precinct and voting location if they plan to vote on election day. These changes have no effect on where or when anyone can early vote.
The Williamson County Commissioner’s Court renewed agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) pertaining to the T. Don Hutto detention center in Taylor Tuesday. This center is a 490-bed facility run by CCA to house immigrants awaiting hearings and decisions on their immigration status.
County Judge Dan Gattis motioned to pass an agenda item that approves an inter-governmental services agreement between ICE and Williamson County. The following agenda item was also passed unanimously and will approve an agreement between CCA and the county regarding management and operation of the facility.
CCA provides the services detainees require and the agreement was set to expire on Monday. After ICE signs the agreement, it will be complete.
Click below to read the extended entry for the comments of Jane Van Praag who was in attendance and sent an LTE for publication: Read the rest of this entry
On Tuesday visiting District Court Judge James Clawson from Bell County lifted the temporary order he’d set in place last Thursday. The judge’s order had barred Williamson County Republican Party Chair-man Bill Fairbrother from ordering primary election ballots until the question of Eacono’s residency had been addressed in court.
The judge’s ruling allows Fairbrother – and his Democratic Party counterpart, Richard Torres – to work with Williamson County Elections Administrator Rick Barron in preparing ballots.
On Tuesday, Barron testified that contrary to popular opinion, the lawsuit Gordon filed earlier this month affects the Democratic primary as well as the Republican primary.
“We are waiting on this ruling right now. We can’t lock down the ballots for either party until this is resolved,” Barron testified, noting the early voting period is Feb. 16-26 and Jan. 15 would have been the first day he could have begun sending absentee ballots to military personnel overseas in advance of the March 2 primaries.
“Both [Republican and Democratic] data bases are together,” he later explained, outside the courtroom. “We put everything into one data base. It’s the only way to do it, really.” [Emphasis added].
Next step is a hearing, or possibly a “full trial” on February 4th.
