Bruce Parrott Ethics Complaint NOT Dismissed
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Fri, 01/29/2010 - 12:00.
Dallas School Board Trustee Bruce Parrott on Wednesday told the Dallas Morning News that the Texas Ethics Commission had dropped an ethics complaint against him concerning his campaign finance report.
According to Commission General Counsel Natalia Ashley, this is not the case.
Citing confidentiality laws surrounding ethics complaints, Ashley could not confirm details and could only say that the complaint was still in process.
Because of the structure of the Texas Ethics Commission, a complaint can only be settled or dismissed after the Commission has heard it. According to the Ethics Commission's calendar, the Commission isn't scheduled to meet until February 11, 2010. Ashley, again citing confidentiality laws, couldn't confirm if the Commission was due to hear Parrott's case at their February meeting.
The original complaint against Parrott arose out of a late campaign filing.
Because of the way Texas Election laws are written, a citizen of the State of Texas can bring a complaint against a candidate or officeholder (the "Respondent") for a variety of reasons.
Once the complaint is filed, however, the proceedings become a confidential matter between the Respondent and the Texas Ethics Commission.
The Commission sends quarterly status letters to anyone who has filed a complaint but cannot, by law, disclose any specifics. Normally these letter simply say "the complaint is still in process."
Texas law requires DISD 8-day campaign finance reports, around an election, to be in the hands of DISD by close-of-business on the 8th day before an election. Violators have historically been fined $500 for missing the deadline and $100-a-day for each day the report is late when filed with the Commission.
Each candidate in the November elections was also supposed to file a semi-annual report, or a final campaign report, by January 15. Again, the Commission has historically levied a fine of $500 for missing the deadline and $100 for each day this report is late when filed with the Commission.
[Developing]
Parrott Ethics Complaint
So it's past the 11th so whats next?
[Ed Note: Keep in mind that the Commission met on the 11th. We don't know for sure whether Parrott's complaint was even heard or not. Assuming it was heard, and the Commission found Parrott to be in violation of Texas election laws, they would propose a settlement. Parrott could either accept it or reject it, at which point it would move forward probably to a public hearing.
If he accepts the Commission's finding, he would agree to pay whatever fine they impose. At that point, the finding would be published on the Commission's website. This piece takes 3-6 weeks--maybe longer.
If the complaint was not heard at this meeting, it will be a couple of months for the Commission gets a crack at it.
Until the matter is resolved, the only person who will be able to comment is Parrott himself--since the matter is confidential between him and the Commission.]
Are you aware of this?
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, each report filed under this chapter must include: 3) the amount of political expenditures that in the aggregate exceed $50 and that are made during the reporting period, the full name and address of the persons to whom the expenditures are made, and the dates and purposes of the expenditures;
[Ed Note: Yes, of course.]
What are you going to do about it?
So what are you going to do about this?
[Ed Note: I don't know. Does something need to be done? Use the Contact link and tell me what you're getting at.]
Superintendent Evaluations
Superintendent and cronies couldn't keep Bruce Parrott from being elected so they're resorting to KGB tactics to get him another way. The superintendent will do anything not to have Bruce Parrott VOTE on Superintendent's job performance and stop looking in to the bungling finances of the Dallas Independent school District and the incompetent administrators he has hired.
All the rats are running scared keep up the good work Bruce.
[Ed Note: Nothing is stopping Parrott, and others, from pushing for doing another evaluation. If they want to do this, it only takes 5 votes! They are the Board of Trustees. There's nothing that says they couldn't re-evaluate the guy monthly if they wanted to!]
So are you going to keep us posted?
Are you going to let us know who you file complaints against?
[Ed Note: Probably not until the matter has been resolved. These guys are not actively serving public officials.]
So are you going to file complaints?
Are you going to file complaints against Martinez Spiller Wallace and Cannon?
[Ed Note: I have a busy next couple of weeks so its hard to tell when I'll get around to doing anything--but I'll likely do something. My goal is just to get people to obey the law.
My understanding is that all of them should be aware of it but one of them was pretty dismissive when I asked about it. So we'll see.
BTW, Cannon filed a Final Report.]
Post new comment