ZAP! #70...November 14, 2011
It’s official. The final Texas Ethics Commission order has been released and the Irving Firemen’s PAC has now been fined $2,000.
http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/sworncomp/2011/3110485.pdf
VII. Sanction
After considering the violations described under Sections III and IV, including the nature, circumstances, and consequences of the violations, and after considering the sanction necessary to deter future violations, the commission imposes a $2,000 civil penalty.
To summarize, the commission has fined Irving Councilmen: Santoscoy $2,500; Stopfer, $1,000; Philipp, $1,000; and the Irving Firemen’s PAC, $2,000.
All of the fines relate to the In-Kind “work” the Firemen’s PAC did while campaigning for the former mayor and current council members. With obscene amounts of money funneled into the PAC by Billy Bob and others associated with pimping the Entertainment Center project, the PAC put out signs, walked neighborhoods and worked the polls during early voting and election day. It should be noted that the firemen participating in the campaign process were paid for their efforts by the PAC.
Not only was the campaign for mayor a costly affair, but the overall image of the Irving fire department was not enhanced by all the actions and activities the PAC engaged in.
It should be noted, not all Irving firemen are members of the PAC.
……………...Mark Holbrook
