The Katy Citizen Watchdogs have received word from the Texas Ethics Commission (http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/sworncomp/orderlst_issued.html) that a complaint filed in February, 2008 against Joe M. Adams, a member of the Katy ISD School Board has been settled.

The sworn complaint alleged that Mr. Adams failed to properly disclose political contributions and political expenditures on his "exceeded $500 limit" report and 8 day pre-election report for the May 2007 election, and on his July 2007 semiannual report. The complaint specifically alleges that the respondent failed to disclose approximately $340 in political contributions, failed to properly disclose loans made to himself, failed to properly disclose total political contributions and total political expenditures, failed to date contributions and expenditures, and failed to properly disclose total political contributions maintained as of the last day of the reporting periods.

The Katy Citizen Watchdogs sent Mr. Adams an email on December 18, 2007 telling him that our organization was aware that he had not filed his paperwork properly. On December 20, 2007, Mr. Adams replied that "I have reviewed the campaign financial report filed for the July 15 reporting date. The information was filed in accordance with the TEC campaign reporting laws and is accurate." The Watchdogs had wished to give Mr. Adams every opportunity to correct his errors and avoid a complaint.

The Watchdogs are very much aware that some of the Katy ISD School Board members have little regard for proper procedures. We have noted their association with the contractors and vendors who endorsed the bond issues, and in that regard a complaint initiated by the Watchdogs resulted in a $1000 Texas Ethics Commission fine for Katy Chamber of Commerce president, Ann Hodge; we recall Eric Duhon failing to file properly his TEC reports several years ago; we took note of Mr. Duhon's letter fabricating a story about Wolfe Elementary to fool the residents of the East End into voting for the incumbents; we noted the Board's appointment to the Board of Chris Crockett when it appeared on the Katy ISD web site that she was still an employee of the District; we recall the investigation by the Texas Rangers into the alleged use of school district equipment (e-mails) to sway the votes of school employees, and the Board's and Superintendent Frailey's failed attempt to curtail access to public records as allowed by the Texas Public Information Act. The Watchdogs believe that the activities of this group warrant oversight.

Mr. Adams was allowed the privilege of submitting corrected reports until September of 2008.

Even so, the Texas Ethics Commission has found among other things that Mr. Adams failed to include dates for contributions and expenditures, failed to "properly disclose total political contributions on his "exceeded $500 limit" report for the May 2007 election, 8 day pre-election report for the May 2007 election, and July 2007 semiannual report," and Mr. Adams failed to "properly disclose the total amount of political contributions maintained as of the last day of the reporting period on that report."

It should be noted that Mr. Adams reported (for amounts requiring a report) only one cash donation from a specific contributor-- Cormac Creaven for $100 and one in-kind contribution from a specific contributor-- Eddie Dugger for $80.00 worth of "letters, cards and stamps" during the 2007 election cycle.

For his inability to fill out his reporting forms properly, the Commission states that "after considering the seriousness of 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 $500 civil penalty" which Mr. Adams has agreed to and paid which causes the order and agreed to resolution to be a "final and complete resolution" of the matter.



Following are the emails sent to Joe Adams regarding the Watchdogs' concerns:

Subj: Campaign Violation
Date: 12/18/2007 6:44:59 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: MN Dannen <mailto:MN%20Dannen>
To: joeadams@katyisd.org <mailto:joeadams@katyisd.org>
CC: billhaskett@KATYISD.ORG <mailto:billhaskett@KATYISD.ORG>

Joe

It has been reported to the Katy Area Watchdogs, that you may be in violation of the Texas Ethics commission campaign reporting laws. Would you please make sure that you have filed your contribution papers by Thursday of this week. Our understanding is that you did not list the names of contributors or amounts contributed on your recent C & Es filed with Bill Haskett's office. Please correct this oversight.

A.D. Muller

XXX-XXX-XXXX

Subj: RE: Campaign Violation
Date: 12/20/2007 11:14:30 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: joeadams@KATYISD.ORG <mailto:joeadams@KATYISD.ORG>
To: MNDannen@xxxxx <mailto:MNDannen@xxxxx>
CC: billhaskett@KATYISD.ORG <mailto:billhaskett@KATYISD.ORG>
Sent from the Internet (Details)

A.D.,

Thank you for your email. I have reviewed the campaign financial report filed for the July 15 reporting date. The information was filed in accordance with the TEC campaign reporting laws and is accurate.

Regards,

Joe Adams

 <http://www.katyisd.org/applications/KISDWebmail/Default.aspx?dname=Joe M. Adams&ename=joeadams>