This Ethics Commission investigation involves City Council Member Nan Huffman, Tony Buzbee, The Houston Hispanic PAC, The Harris Progressive PAC and an unknown candidate for office, Enyinna Isiguzo. The Houston Chronicle wrote a detailed article prior to the election.
Background
During the city election of 2023 Buzbee, Huffman, and Isiguzo ran for City Council District G, the River Oaks area. Isiguzo had no money, no background, and no business running, but he did. Someone sent out glossy mailers supporting him. Other mailers attacked Huffman in an attempt to draw enough votes away from her. Isiguzo drew 11% of the vote and forced a runoff which Huffman later won. An ethics complaint was filed and the Texas Ethics Commission investigated and assess a fine of $12,500.
Who sent the mailers?
The mailers were printed by Long Printing and paid for by the Houston Hispanic PAC and the Harris County Progressive PAC. Neither PAC filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. They spent over $29,000 on the mailers. An ethics complaint was filed and the registered agent was fined $12,500. The mailers also had a fake Union logo which could lead to a fine of up to $10,000. Falsifying a union label is consider a breach of federal trademark registration and copyright, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Falsifying a union label is considered a breach of the federal trademark registration and copyright laws, said Oscar Lopez, president of Houston’s Printing, Packaging, Production Workers Union Local Chapter 4535M.
Who is the Houston Hispanic PAC and the Harris County Progressive PAC
The HHPAC was created in 2016 according to the Secretary of State. I found no information about the Harris County Progressive PAC. Both are not registered with the Texas Ethics Commission. Neither have any association with the Harris County Democratic Party. Isiguzo ran as the “progressive” candidate in the deep red district.
Who is Daysi Marin?
Daysi Marin is the registered agent of the HHPAC and is good friends with Gilbert Garcia. Garcia ran for Mayor in 2023. He was also the treasurer for Tony Buzbee. Marin has been featured on Garcia’s talk show in the past. Marin was the Vice President of the Texas Democratic Women’s organization but was removed from her position. According to the TEC, Marin ignored the Ethics Commission’s complaint. She did not respond to the complaint and failed to attend the informal or formal hearings. The hearing video concerning this complaint is available here starting at 3:50:22. In short, she ignored the complaint, she hindered the investigation, and the TEC fined her $12,500. You can read all of the details in the Order and Agreed Resolution here.
Who is Enyinna Isiguzo?
Good question. Little is known about Enyinna. A google search reveals little. His campaign finance reports shows he spent just $150 of his own money. Buzbee spent millions in his losing effort while Huffman spent a couple hundred thousand. His treasurer was Heather Riley of Houston. According to the Chronicle he knew nothing about the expenditures in his favor.
“I don’t even know who those people are,” Isiguzo said. “I would definitely like to find out who paid for that, too, because they didn’t tell me anything.”
Conclusion
I am sure everyone can connect the dots between Marin, Garcia and Buzbee. Marin will probably never pay the $12,5000 fine just like Harris County Department of Education Trustee, Eric Dick. The Texas AG will write a sternly written letter threatening legal action and then will do nothing. The TEC does not have enforcement authority so this will be just another of many unpaid fines. The entire event almost succeeded and could lay the foundation for others interested in swaying an election.
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[…] John Cobarruvias, whom I have known for about 20 years, he’s still out there blogging, and wrote about this last month. I support his actions to keep candidates in compliance, and I share his frustrations […]