Astroturfing in SBOE Place 9

(cross-posted from Blue Dot Blues)

Oy vay. We don't have enough problems in these SBOE races? The nefarious Texas EducratParent PAC has endorsed Thomas Ratliff in the SBOE 9 Republican primary (where Don McLeroy is the incumbent).

I've written about Parent PAC's involvement in Texas elections since 2006, so if you're interested in the history, check out the tag on Blue Dot Blues. According to the Quorum Report story (subscribers only) on the Ratliff endorsement, the PAC decided to get involved at the SBOE level because that's apparently where education decisions are made (who would've thought?). A simplified way of saying it, perhaps - but the PAC spent the 2006 and 2008 election seasons swatting at voucher proponents in the Legislature, and now they're revealing a much deeper agenda than some of us had heretofore suspected and not verified. They'd like to get rid of conservatives on the SBOE, and go for people who want electronic textbooks and more education spending, for instance. Their Texas Ethics Commission reports bear this out again and again.

Just in case you're curious about who gives to Parent PAC, I scour the TEC reports so you don't have to. Here's a list from the latest report, just people who caught my eye:

January Semi-Annual:

Clifford Brown (goes by "Buster" - mayor of Corsicana, lots of cash to Democrats), $1000, 11/25/2009

Elna Christopher (Texas Association of Counties, Director of Media Relations), $100, 11/27/2009

Patricia Conradt (Chief of Staff for Rep. Joe Heflin, D-Crosbyton), $100, 12/1/2009

Sandy Dochen (Public relations), $100, 11/16/2009

Laura Fowler (Lawyer), $100, 10/10/2009

Susan Griffith (Realtor), $100, 11/17/2009

Eliu M. Hinojosa (Superintendent, Dallas ISD), $100, 12/15/2009

Shanna Igo (Texas Municipal League, Director of Legislative Services), $500, 11/17/2009

Dr. Melody Johnson (Superintendent, Fort Worth ISD), $250, 12/26/2009

Sandra Kibby (Wholesale Beverage Distributor), $100, 11/24/2009

Sara Leon (Lawyer), $100, 10/10/2009

Sherrie Matula (Educational Science Consultant and former Democrat candidate for state rep), $250, 10/3/2009

Ken McCraw (Executive Director, Texas Association of Community Schools), $250, 11/12/2009

Pam(e) Noland (District Services Coordinator, New Deal ISD), $100, 10/10/2009

Blake Powell (Lawyer), $100, 10/10/2009

Pat Pringle (Executive Director, Region XIII Education Svc. Center), $100, 12/1/2009

Gwendolyn Santiago (Executive Director, Texas Association of School Business Officials), $100, 12/23/2009

Guy Sconzo (Superintendent, Humble ISD), $100, 12/1/2009

Dr. Henry Scott (Superintendent, Denison ISD), $75, 12/1/2009

Gene Sheets (Superintendent, Muleshoe ISD), $100, 10/6/2009

Wow. That's a good chunk of the contributors on the January semi-annual. I left off a couple of retirees and one or two homemakers.

What is the agenda, again, exactly? Supporting what parents want, or what school administrators want?

Update on Alvord ISD Superintendent John Trice

Alvord Superintendent John Trice has resigned. Only last week, Peggy Venable at Americans for Prosperity called for the Wise County DA to investigate possible wrong-doing by the Superintendent which included both electioneering on school property and school time as well as failure to comply with the Texas Public Informaiton laws by omitting an email from a PI request. The email was threatening an school district vendor. Some Alvord parents and taxpayers are rejoicing this weekend, but not so fast. The school board recently extended his contract for five years. This Superintendent should not be provided a golden parachute, but a pink slip. Read the resignation here: http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=5989&state=tx

Alvord ISD Superintendent May Go Beyond Detention Hall – Directly to Jail

It is clear that Alvord Independent School District (ISD) Superintendent John Trice has potentially put himself – and his school district – in a world of trouble.

Not only was Supt. Trice caught electioneering on school time and school property (http://txpayervoice.blogspot.com/2008/02/alford-isd-officials-electioneering.htm), but Supt. Trice has now threatened a school vendor in an email, and he also failed to provide that threatening email when an open records request asked for all emails from the Superintendent during the time period the email in question was sent.

Looks to this writer as if Superintendent Trice gotten caught in two additional illegal actions and it leads one to wonder just how much more of the turmoil taking place in Alvord ISD is as result of Trice’s reckless activities. It also begs the question: Just how much liability are the Alvord School Board members and the taxpayers of Alvord assuming by virtue of Supt Trice’s actions?

A private company, a telecommunications vendor – clearly pleased that Rep. Phil King had not only helped lower consumers’ telecom taxes, but had also supported eliminating an outdated tax (a legislative position supported by the telecommunications industry along with taxpayer advocates) invited Alvord Superintendent John Trice to an appreciation reception for Alvord ISD (and Trice’s) current state representative. And Superintendent Trice responded not only no, but by saying that he would work to keep that company from getting the school district’s business.

Below is Alvord ISD Superintendent John Trice's email:
____________
[mailto:jtrice@alvordisd.net]
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 1:35 PM
To: (removed by the writer of this post)
Subject: Declined: State Representative Phil King Appreciation Reception
When: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 4:30 PM-6:30 PM (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada).
Where: Decatur Civic Center

Thank you for the invitation; however, Phil King in his own mailout claims responsibility for doing away with the TIF tax. This source of revenue was critical for schools to purchase computers, build infrastructure (such as the fiber we just purchased from Embarq) and other desparately needed technologies. This tax was very small compared to the property tax needed to recoup this loss of revenue. Mr. King is no friend to public education and I will not support him. If Embarq chooses to support him, I will most definitely propose that we do business with any competitor of Embarq at every opportunity.
If that is not clear enough, please call and I will tell you what I really think of Mr. King!!!
John Trice
______________

Supt. Trice’s email begs several comments:
--First, Supt Trice needs a spelling lesson – it is “desperately” not “desparately”;
-- Second, Rep. Phil King has been a friend to taxpayers and has demanded accountability from school districts. Alvord ISD taxpayers might appreciate that;
-- Third, you clearly don’t understand the TIF tax; and
-- Finally, the employees, taxpayers and parents of Alvord have my sincere sympathy.

As background, I sent a Public Information request to Alvord on February 22, 2008, to Joel Waldo, Administrative Assistant and asked – among other things – for: “Copies of all correspondence sent with Superintendent John Trice’s name since January 1, 2008.”

Clearly, the email pasted above was sent from Supt Trice’s school email account and was sent after Jan. 1 and before Feb 22 – the period designated in the FOIA request.

After sending the request, Trice called the Americans for Prosperity office claiming to be the Public Information officer and said that he would fulfill our FOIA request. He didn’t reveal to our office manager that he was the Superintendent. (She wasn’t fooled, as she knew his name.)

Though the Texas Public Information Act required compliance with my request, I not expect to get all his emails. He didn’t fail to disappoint me. I got emails from Trice commending people, setting meetings, all very mundane emails. I certainly didn’t get his email threatening a vendor with pulling a contract because the vendor (a private company) was participating in an event to honor their state representative.

So for that reason, I want to post this information so the Alvord community can read it for themselves. I hope they will take appropriate action.

Unfortunately, the Alvord School Board has recently extended Supt Trice’s contract for an additional five years. They have put their school district – and particularly the taxpayers and parents -- in a very difficult situation.

Alvord taxpayers should consider forcing a recall vote for any school board member who voted to extend the Superintendent’s contract (at a salary of well over $100,000). They put taxpayer dollars in jeopardy – along with the education of the approximately 700 students in the school district.

-- Peggy Venable, Texas director, Americans for Prosperity

UPDATE: On June 19, 2008, Venable sent a letter to the Wise County District Attorney asking for an investigation and action to be taken: http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?id=5909&state=tx

Alvord ISD officials electioneering

Alvord ISD Superintendent John Trice and Larry Wilson (Assistant Secretary of the School Board) appear to have lost their minds, and should soon lose their jobs. They are using their positions to electioneer.

These nitwits have sent a letter to “Fellow Educators and School Employees” which all but threatens school district employees to vote for State Rep Dist 61 candidate Joe Tison.

This letter begins with, “We assume your family, health and livelihood are most important to you.” (Duh!)

“With confidence, we endorse Joe (Tison) and do ask your support and vote. As career educators, public schools are our 1st priority and primary reason to support Joe.” (And here we thought the family and health were priorities!)

Even superintendents should do their homework. Several items in the letter are blatantly false, such as Rep. King’s support for elimination of the Texas Infrastructure Fund (TIF) was a big loss to school districts.*

There was nothing subtle about the letter:

“…we can elect the candidate of our choice…….if we all vote!”

The letter goes on to say “We can win with Joe Tison in the primary and general election if….
1. Every school employee and their family members support and vote for Joe.
2. Every school employee tells other family members & friends why they should support/vote for Joe. Ask each of these to tell three others
3. Some employees participate in a campaign strategy meeting (inform Mr. Trice)
– This is the Superintendent!!!
4. Employees will display a yard sign supporting Joe Tison. You can contact Mr. Trice or Mr. Wilson at 427-8711 for a sign.
5. Go to the polls for early voting. Employees could group together and go vote.”

The letter ends with a basic civics lesson:

“Important to remember:
1. Please vote in the Republican Primary…
2. The candidate receiving the majority of votes wins the primary and their name will be listed on the General Election Ballot in November.
3. Registered voters can vote for any party’s candidate in the General Election.”

“You have our thanks and respect.

John Trice Larry Wilson”
(Letter is signed by each)

Tison was reported early in his campaign as “currently looking for a political consultant. In the meantime, he is relying on the Texas Parent PAC.” We don’t know who is advising him, but clearly no one with any sense is advising the Alvord school officials.

Friends, my bet is that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama won’t be any too happy that these school district employees are being encouraged to vote in the Republican primary.

And I anticipate that these school officials broke a myriad of laws.

But it isn’t our job to prosecute them, but to call public attention to their shenanigans and to call for a public outcry against public school officials using their position to influence elections.

UPDATE: A call to Supt Trice at 5:07 pm today went into his voice mail. He was likely out campaigning for Joe Tison.

-- Bahamamamasmama


* Brief on TIF Tax:

 The Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF) was institute in 1995 and is a 1.25% tax on telephones

 The TIF Tax costs Texas consumers $200 million a year

 The TIF Tax was originally slated for repeal after the collection of $1.5 billion—this goal was met sometime ago

 The TIF Tax no longer serves the primary purpose it was intended to—which was to place broadband in schools, libraries and hospitals