Loaning Unlimited Campaign Cash: Houston City Council

July 26, 2026

Some wealthy candidates can afford to campaign without raising money.

State Senator Mayes Middleton, a multimillionaire, has repeatedly used his personal wealth to finance his campaigns for State Representative, State Senator, and now Attorney General. According to campaign finance reports, he has invested nearly $20 million of his own money in his Attorney General campaign. State Senator Don Huffines, a billionaire, is also self-financing his campaign for Texas Comptroller.

By comparison, at the local level, only 5 of Houston’s 15 City Council members currently have outstanding personal loans to their campaigns. You can see the list below. The Houston Chronicle posted an article concerning paying back personal loans using their donors money:

Previously, the mayor, controller and at-large council members could repay themselves no more than $75,000 and district council members no more than $50,000. The new policy, approved unanimously without discussion during Wednesday’s council meeting, removes the caps.

I find it curious that officials who typically don’t rely on personal loans to finance their campaigns voted to remove the repayment cap of $75,000. If a candidate needs to loan themselves more than $75,000 to win a City Council race, it may be a sign they need to better gauge voter support or improve their fundraising efforts.

There are, of course, exceptions. Running for an open seat created by a vacancy, for example, may require a larger, short-term personal investment due to the compressed campaign timeline.

The policy was introduced by Councilman Edward Pollard, who happens to lead the pack in campaign loans with a staggering $1,040,000—nearly half of his $2,197,573 cash on hand. Pollard easily tops the list of Council Members with the deepest pockets, while few of his colleagues even reach six figures in their accounts. (Notably, Council Member Huffman hasn’t filed a finance report since July 2025.)

We need strict limits on campaign loans, especially personal loans from candidates. Running for City Council should be about pounding the pavement, engaging your district, and earning donations—not writing yourself a massive check. Without these limits, city elections will mirror state politics, pricing out everyday residents and reserving public office strictly for the wealthy.

Council MemberOutstanding Loan
Edward Pollard$1,040,000
Fred Flickinger$103,000
Alejandra Salinas$95,000
Twila Carter$39,000
Julian Ramirez$30,000
Amy Peck$0
Tarsha Jackson$0
Joe Panzarella$0
Carolyn Evans-Shabazz$0
Tiffany D. Thomas$0
Mary Nan Huffman$0
Mario Castillo$0
Joaquin Martinez$0
Martha Castex-Tatum$0
Willie Davis$0
Sallie Alcorn$0
Mayor Whitmire$0
Controller Hollins$0

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Posted by johncoby

Santa Fe Texas Chamber of Commerce Gun Bingo

July 26, 2026

The Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce should read the class room.

The Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ‘Bags and Bullets Bingo’ event, co-sponsored by Carnes Funeral Home—a partnership that feels disturbingly out of touch. Given the tragic mass shooting at Santa Fe High School, it raises serious concerns about whether firearms, including those similar to the ones used in the tragedy, are being raffled or auctioned off. For a civic organization to host a gun-centered fundraiser in a community that lost innocent children just for going to school is deeply insensitive. In 2025 a middle school booster club was raffling off a gun:

Locally the Leadership Development Corps booster club at Clear Lake Intermediate is having a raffle for a gun and a gun club gift certificate. The gun isn’t an AR15 like the kind that was used for killing 19 children in Uvalde or a sawed off shotgun that was used in the Santa Fe shooting.

The raffle was cancelled. The designer bags are classy. The guns are sick. If interested you can contact the Santa Fe Chamber at (409) 925-8558 office@santafetxchamber.com

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Texas City Police Slaps Down La Marque City Councilman

July 24, 2026

The police report filed by Lowry is ridiculous, preposterous, outrageous!

In a previous post I listed an incomplete list of police reports filed with the La Marque Police Department by Councilman Joseph Lowry. More will be posted soon but Lowry is now filing with the Texas City Police. Lowry was whining about one of his stalking victims, Harvey Freebird. Harvey was getting an oil change and just so happen to visit the same oil change station that Lowry and his beautiful bride was at.

Needless to say Lowry jumped into his conspiracy theory that Harvey was now stalking him and called the police. He filed report #TCPD26-003722. The police jumped into action, dispatching police with sirens blaring and lights flashing. They quickly surrounded the oil change business like ICE jumping on a Mexican grade school student. (Ok that is a bit of an exaggeration) Actually the police came, they listened, they wrote a report, and they found the complaint UNFOUNDED. In other words Lowry was nothing but a whiny little bitch again.

Needless to say I bet Lowry is madder than a wet hen and will be calling the Texas City Police criminals, corrupt, and compromised. Compound this with the fact that his city provided cell phone has been disconnected, his Facebook page has been deleted, and he has been outed as using a fake Facebook account of Jon Jon McMuffin’s. It’s been a bad week for hime. You can read the entire report here.

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Posted by johncoby

The Pastor Stirring the Hate Towards Muslims in La Porte

July 24, 2026

So much for “Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.“

The Houston Chronicle wrote an article concerning a proposed Mosque in La Porte. The community has purchased the land and are fundraising to pay off the loan. No plans are in place to build as of yet but the CHINOs (Christians in Name Only) are out in force led by the Republican nominee for Harris County Commissioner and Pastor, Richard Vega.

Vega is an extreme, right wing, christian nationalist. He has ran for office before and lost. He has an interesting past as was noted by his primary opponent. He is mostly funded by Christian Nationalist Senator Money Mayes Middleton. He has posted videos all giddy about putting the 10 Commandments in public schools yet continues to lie about his opponent supporting terrorist organizations. He has a relationship with Trump and was recently invited to the White House for reasons unknown. He is a Community Pastor at Community Transformation Church.

Vega is running on the issues important to voters in the district and are priorities of the Republican Party, stopping Sharia Law (that doesn’t exist), attacking Drag Queen events, and of course attacking the Muslim community. That is what he is doing today in his attack of the proposed Mosque in La Porte. The Muslim community has had event centers in Clear Lake for at least a decade. They live in peace because they are decent people and so are we. The only group spewing hate towards others is Vega and his followers. Vega likes to shoot his mouth off but refused to provide a comment for the Houston Chronicles article. According to the Chronicle:

Pastor Richard Vega, who’s running for Precinct 2 Harris County Commissioner, referenced plans for a La Porte mosque in a campaign ad video earlier this month. “LA PORTE IS DEMANDING ANSWERS!” he began his video caption, which mentioned plans for what he called a “massive Islamic center.” Vega did not respond to multiple phone requests and an emailed request for comment.

Vega needs to take the advice of Trump and stick to preaching whatever he is preaching. Hopefully he will not learn about the Buddhist Temple west of Friendswood. Praise the lord.

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Posted by johncoby

Town Hall Meeting: The High Cost of Home Insurance in the Bay Area

July 21, 2026

Tuesday August 25, 2026
6:30 PM Social 7:00PM-8:30PM Meeting
Webster Civic Center
311 Pennsylvania Webster Texas 77598

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List of Police Complaints Filed by La Marque Councilman

July 21, 2026

This is just insane. This is coming from a sitting, elected, Council Member.

La Marque City Councilman, Joseph Lowry, is well known for running to the La Marque police department and filing a police report for everything from name calling to pigs eating people (seriously). Below is a list of complaints filed from 1/1/2023 – 3/20/2025. You can view the entire list of complaints with all the investigation details here. It is a searchable PDF file and you can easily find each case by searching for the case number.

This list will be updated once La Marque releases the data for the time period 3/20/25 – 6/30/26. BTW he filed another report with the Texas City police just yesterday claiming harassment at an oil change business. Some of the most notable complaints include:

  • Lowry received a postcard with a picture of pigs. He believed that was a threat because pigs eat people. He asked for the postcard to be taken and dusted for fingerprints. (seriously)
  • Multiple reports concern a child refusing to go with Lowry. These are disturbing to say the least. Reference case #24-02297
  • He has various complaints concerning name calling and being approached at a restaurant claiming harrassment
  • He has a number of complaints about phone calls.

This list does not include the now famous complaint about someone destroying his garden gnomes. I am sure the police department has issued a BOLO for the alleged perpetrators.

DateOffenseStatusCase #OfficerNotes
1/26/23Intimidationinactive23-00128Aaron SkaggsPigs eating people
6/15/23All Other Offensivesinactive23-01132Cpl. J.GuzmanCustody Case
6/26/23Larcenyinactive23-01208K StanfordTheft of a powerwasher
10/15/23Intimidationinactive23-02047H WaltonVerbal name calling
11/2/23Intimidationinactive23-02176G MadgettScrews in tires
2/8/24Family offensivesinactive24-00114A RojasCustody Case
1/18/24Family offensivesinactive24-00114J PetersonCustody Case
3/21/24All Other Offensivesinactive24-00610A CastilloPublic info release
3/28/24Family offensivesinactive24-00674H EllisCustody Case
4/8/24All Other Offensivesinactive24-00763G MadgettKnome damaged
4/30/24Identity theftinactive24-00941H EllisSSN posted
7/14/24All Other OffensivesSuspended24-01582F GandyVarious complaints 
9/1/24Intimidationinactive24-01968F GandyVarious complaints 
10/7/24IntimidationActive24-02262N GalindoGross pictures
10/10/24All Other Offensivesinactive24-02297K HeathChild refuses to go w Lowry
10/20/24IntimidationActive24-02391D ThomassonName calling
11/19/24Intimidationinactive24-02641G Madgett* Threats by 3rd party
1/13/25All Other OffensivesActive25-00071D CantuDisclosure of information
1/23/25IntimidationActive25-00147A GarciaText sent to his mom
2/17/25Intimidationinactive25-00331J PetersonReceived silent calls
2/23/25All Other Offensivesinactive25-00370A CastilloApproached at a restaurant
3/20/25All Other OffensivesActive25-00611D CantuHarrassing phone call

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NASA Requiring Loyalty Oath to Trump for all New Hires

July 20, 2026

This is some sick, unsafe, shit.

Back in April Trump called for a 24% cut in the NASA budget. This would have cut a number of programs including Gateway, a station around the Moon. Employees have spent 5 years working on this project and although it is not cancelled, it is not Gateway. Instead the project is being reformed into two separate projects, converting the living module to a lunar habitat and sending the power unit on a trip to Mars. Along with these “cancellations” comes cuts to NASA employees.

This cut in funding and the failed DOGE cuts resulted in the loss of many NASA jobs but just months later those jobs are now being filled by contractors. Contractor jobs are being converted to Civil Service jobs but the conversion comes with a catch. On the application applicants must pledge loyalty to Trump’s executive orders. Here is the specific question:

NASA is a different kind of workforce. We stress safety because there is little room for error. We cannot be forced or coerced to making decisions that may cause a safety issue. If we see something we say something without fear of retaliation. If Trump gave an executive order to land on the moon before he is out of office and NASA employees believe the schedule would require cutting corners and would be unsafe they are required to speak up and possibly get fired for doing so. Don’t think this won’t happen.

BTW landing on the Moon safely is not going to happen before Trump is impeached.

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Posted by johncoby

Turning Point Attempting to Infiltrate CCISD

July 20, 2026

There is an easy way to stop this crap.

Turning Point USA seems to have a club at Clear Springs High School, at least according to a Facebook post. TP is the organization led by Charlie Kirk who was gunned down by a right wing MAGAt. Governor Abbott vowed in 2025 to establish TP in every high school in Texas and to take action against any school that attempts to stop the club from forming. According to his press release:

“There has been no moment in time during the course of this century when there was such an urgency and a need for an organization like TPUSA and Club America,” said Governor Abbott. “TP is a great organization to push white wing Christian Nationalism.”

Ok that last sentence he didn’t say, but it would be right if he did. Maybe Abbott ought to also start KKK Klubs or Proud Boy clubs. The students in Clear Springs ought to take this into their own hands, join the club, then vote to disband it.

Screenshot

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Raising Campaign Cash: Candidates for Harris County Judge, Orlando Sanchez and Letitia Plummer

July 17, 2026

Neither have great fundraising numbers.

The Houston Chronicle has a good article on the two candidates running for Harris County Judge if you like the 30,000 ft level. Here are some more details. You can review campaign finance reports for Harris County candidates at https://ethics.harrisvotes.com/CampaignFinanceReports/COR.aspx. The amounts are not very impressive. In 2022 Alex Mealer spent about $10 Million in his losing effort against Lina Hidalgo. Abbott has pledged $20 Million to win seats in Harris County.

Orlando Sanchez
Sanchez raised $107,165, spent $141,418, and has a Cash on Hand balance of $32,527. He has an outstanding loan of $234,513. In this period he added a personal loan of $15,000 to this total but I cannot find any report going back 8 years where this $234,513 loan was reported. I can only assume it came from his own pocket and spent it along the way. In 2018 he ran for County Treasurer, spent most of this loan, and lost. He carries this balance to be able to be reimbursed at a later date. That usually happens after a candidate wins. They continue to fundraise, paying off their loan first. Of the $107,165 $75,000 came from the 9 individuals below.

DonorAmount
Joseph Swinbank$25,000
Simon Kukes$10,000
Carey McNair$10,000
Kriss Cloninger$5,000
Lisa Cloninger$5,000
CM Carver$5,000
Kevin Matocha$5,000
Terry Shaikh$5,000
Richard Weekley$5,000
$75,000

Letitia Plummer
Plummer raised $145,881, spent $70,492, and has a Cash on Hand balance of $70,161. She has a personal loan of $45,000. Out of the $145,881 raised $75,000 came from 8 individuals/PACs below.

Commissioner Rodney Ellis$25,000
Judge Lina Hidalgo$10,000
Dr. John Calhoun$10,000
Loeb Margery$10,000
Across the Track PAC$5,000
Husch Blackwell LLP$5,000
Linebarger Goggan Blare & Sampson$5,000
Sabouni Mourhaf$5,000
$75,000

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Posted by johncoby

Not Raising Campaign Cash: Scott Bowen for State Representative

July 16, 2026

Bowen is the heir of the throne.

Former CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen, after being ousted from the Board, is now the republican nominee for State Representative of the Bay Area. In March he easily beat his Republican conservative, Robert Mitchell, even though Mitchell was a far better candidate. In that period Bowen financed his campaign with a $50,000 personal loan and major donations from out of district PACs. Bowen is the new PACMAN of the Bay Area. Bowen raised over $200,000 for his primary race but for the general election he has raised significantly less.

His mid year report filed on 7/15/2026 shows he raised only $12,000 with more than half coming from various out of district PACs. He also added $15,000 to his personal loan amount. He has only $16,000 cash on hand. For Bowen winning the primary was all he needed to win the general election. He probably thinks he is entitled to be the heir to the throne held by a Republican for over 30 years. He doesn’t need to raise money to earn the votes of those in the Bay Area, after all he is PACMAN and his devotion will be to Greg Abbott and his PAC buddies not to the citizens of the district.

Bowen is running against Albert Wittliff who is depending on donations from those in the community. Wittliff has met with the business community as well as voters in the district. If you listen to Albert speak on any issue affecting the community, insurance, electricity prices, education, vouchers, etc you will leave very impressed. Wittliff has applicable experience for the job. He is an excellent speaker. Bowen, on the other hand, is awkward, has a failed record of leadership on the CCISD Board, and stands out in a crowd like a duck doing the chicken dance.

There are a number of forums scheduled between the town where voters will see the difference between the two.

BTW. I donated to Wittliff. Take 4 minutes and watch a video of him speaking about his background.

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Posted by johncoby

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