I’ve received word via email that an ethics complaint has been filed against At Large #4 candidate C.O. Bradford, alleging violations in his October campaign finance report. The sender included a PDF of the complaint, but I’m not posting it here as it contained a scan of his drivers license. The details of the complaint are as follows:
Respondent has violated §18-38 City of Houston Code of Ordinances by accepting political contributions in excess of the $5,000.00 personal contribution limit from four separate individuals.
Title 15 of the Texas Election Code defines “contribution” as, “a direct or indirect transfer of money, goods, services, or any other thing of value” and “campaign contribution” as “a contribution to a candidate or political committee that is offered or given with the intent that it be used in connection with a campaign for elective office or on a measure. Whether a contribution is made before, during, or after an election does not affect its status as a campaign contribution.”
Respondent violated limitations on campaign contributions set forth by §18-38 City of Houston Code of Ordinances by accepting political contributions totalling $11,000.00 from Wendy Richard, consisting of separate contributions in the amount of $1,500.00 on March 31, 2009, $1,500.00 on April 30, 2009, $1,500.00 on May 31, 2009, $1,500.00 on June 30, 3009, $2,000.00 on July 1, 2009, $1,500.00 on August 1, 2009, and $1,500.00 on September 1, 2009.
Respondent violated limitations on campaign contributions set forth by §18-38 City of Houston Code of Ordinances by accepting political contributions totalling $7,500.00 from T. Piper Media, consisting of separate contributions in the amount of $1,000.00 on July 1, 2009, $3,000.00 on August 1, 2009, and $3,500.00 on September 1, 2009.
Respondent violated limitations on campaign contributions set forth by §18-38 City of Houston Code of Ordinances by accepting political contributions totalling $10,000.00 from Peter Rene, consisting of separate contributions in the amount of $5,000.00 on April 1, 2009 and $5,000.00 on September 24, 2009.
Respondent violated limitations on campaign contributions set forth by §18-38 City of Houston Code of Ordinances by accepting political contributions totalling $6,000.00 from James Evans, consisting of separate contributions in the amount of $3,000.00 on June 30, 2009 and $3,000.00 on September 24, 2009.
Each of the contributions listed above has been reported on campaign finance reports, Form C/OH, submitted by the Respondent to the Secretary of the City of Houston on July 14, 2009 and October 5, 2009 and made available to the general public on the City of Houston website.
We’ll see what happens. The Texas Ethics Commission doesn’t act with anything resembling haste, so who knows when they’ll give a ruling. Coby, who anticipated that someone would file such a complaint, has more.
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