JOE ADAMS REPLIES TO TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION FINE:
From: Joe
Adams [mailto:jadams@ix.netcom.com]
Sent: Thu 11/13/2008 9:10 AM
To: Adams, Joe and Donna
Subject: Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Elected officials are required to file campaign
finance reports for set periods of time prior to
and after an election. (e.g., for school board
elections, one is due 30 days before election day;
another is due 8 days before election day; and
another is due on July 15.) Following the election
on May 12, 2007, it was brought to our attention
by the Texas Ethics Commission that there were
questions regarding some of the campaign reports.
Upon review, it was discovered that, while all
campaign contributions and expenditures were
reported, there were some errors. We took
immediate action and filed corrected reports.
The errors involved inadvertent omission of dates
and reporting dates of some expenditures. We
incurred some expenses and did not know the exact
amount (e.g., printing, signs, and a newspaper ad)
during the 8 days before the campaign. We paid the
invoices for these expenses after the election and
included them in the report filed by July 15. The
TEC stated that they felt these expenses should
have been shown in the report due 8 days before
the election and have set a civil assessment of
$500.
We respectfully disagree with the TEC's findings
but to pursue the matter further would be costly
and time-consuming with trips to Austin and legal
fees. We have chosen to pay this civil assessment
in full resolution of any issues relative to my
campaign finance reports in order to get this
procedural matter behind us so I can focus my
attention on continuing to be the best board
member I can be. You will note that this is the
first time in the approximately twenty years that
I have served that my campaign finance reports
have been questioned. You will also note if you
check the docket of the TEC the growing number of
complaints filed against unpaid elected local
officials. Unlike others, we have neither the
staff nor the experience to keep up with every
single reporting requirement. Be assured that in
the future, I will continue to do all that I can
in my power to correctly complete these reports
and to serve the members of the Katy ISD
community.
Joe Adams, Katy ISD Board Member
Donna Adams, Campaign Treasurer
20702 Sea Pine Drive
Katy, TX 77450
281.492.0700
And My Reply:
Please recall that A. D. Muller sent emails to Mr. Adams telling him that he had filed his reports incorrectly, thus giving him a chance to address the problem. Mr. Adams replied that his reports were correctly done! Only then was he reported to the Texas Ethics Commission.
Mr. Adams also notes that this is the first time his reports have been questioned. I would point out that this is probably the first time anyone from the public ever looked at Mr. Adams' reports!
Mr. Adams, as the President of the Board, had ample opportunity over the years, in my opinon, to suggest to the Administration (since he appears unable to fill out the reports correctly) that the Administration provide some guidance to Board Members and Board candidates in filling out their forms for the sake of keeping the school district from looking foolish. Perhaps the nicely paid Texas Association of School Boards could also engage in helping out these candidates.