CCISD Trustee cooking the books?

January 18, 2025

It’s Bowen. Again.

Ever since 2008 I began reviewing campaign finance reports specifically, at first, I focused on what elected officials and candidates spent their donors money on and wow did I find some doozies! Former State Representative John Davis, representing the Bay Area, was caught spending his donors money on fancy, expensive, boots and gas for his roofing company. State Senator Jane Nelson, now the Secretary of State, was spending her donors money on a condo, then got caught giving her husband money to buy a condo. But today is a first with Bowen.

Recently League City Council Member Justin Hicks was caught conveniently hiding a loan to his campaign. In his amended report the loan came from his treasurer. His treasurer is his wife. There there is Sheriff Fullen who reported a $100,000 loan which mysteriously vanished on the next report. The Texas Ethics Commission is investigating both of these.

In his latest report Bowen is reporting a donation, from himself, for $20,000 to pay off a loan that he made to himself. WTF? When he made the loan to himself he was required to actually deposit the money into a separate account. So now he donates another $20,000 to himself, deposits that donation into his account then pays himself for the loan. None of that makes cents.

What Bowen is trying to do is turn his first loan into a donation therefore he does not have to report an outstanding loan balance in his future reports. That’s not the way this should be accomplished but for the Republic Party rules and laws are for suckers. Bowen starts his campaign with over $9200, mostly his own money.

He is up for reelection in May.

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Posted by johncoby

Raising Campaign Cash: CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen’s Billionaire Buddies

January 14, 2025

Different name. Same game.

CCISD Trustee had the ear of the PAC Defend Texas Liberty. They were funded by two billionaires in Dallas, Timothy Dunn and Farris Wilks and featured in an investigative report by CNN. That PAC eventually folded after their leadership was caught meeting with a known white supremacist Nick Fuentes. Bowen’s association with this group and others was so disturbing I spoke at a board meeting detailing his involvement. You can read the details here.

But Defend Texas Liberty is back. Again. This time as Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC. Same people. Different name. Over the last year TUCM (Tuck-em) raised $9,606,725 with $7,065,000 coming from Dunn, and $1,290,000 from Wilks.

These individuals tried, unsuccessfully, to influence the last CCISD election financing Peter Lauzon’s campaign. He lost. They also donated $5000 to another candidate. She returned the money. Bowen himself received $2000 from them.

You might want to read the information on Scott Bowen’s relationship with these guys and other organizations. Here are the entire list of donors and donations:

Contributor NameAmount
Adams ,Carol20,000.00
Adamson ,Mark25,000.00
Barnes ,Rick3,500.00
Beebe ,Matt750.00
Bennet ,Montgomery25,000.00
Bennet ,Montgomery25,000.00
Bennet ,Montgomery10,000.00
Bruce ,Robert20,000.00
Bruce ,Robert10,000.00
Carroll ,Don5,000.00
David Lowe Campaign100,000.00
Dunn ,Timothy1,675,000.00
Dunn ,Timothy1,625,000.00
Dunn ,Timothy1,365,000.00
Dunn ,Timothy600,000.00
Dunn ,Timothy600,000.00
Dunn ,Timothy450,000.00
Dunn ,Timothy325,000.00
Dunn ,Timothy200,000.00
Dunn ,Timothy125,000.00
Dunn ,Timothy100,000.00
Elswick ,Roger35,000.00
Elswick ,Roger35,000.00
Fails ,Chris750.00
Fite ,Ralph1,500.00
Groves ,David1,000.00
Hexagon Partners700,000.00
Hillary Hickland Campaign5,000.00
Karger ,Ken1,000.00
Mason ,Mike2,500.00
Morrison ,Peter15,000.00
Owens ,Tom30,000.00
Owens ,Tom3,000.00
Rydin ,Michael100,000.00
Rydin ,Michael10,000.00
Rydin ,Michael4,000.00
Texans for Responsible Judges PAC55,000.00
Wallace ,Bonnie1,250.00
Wilks ,Farris1,290,000.00
Wise County Conservatives7,475.00
9,606,725.00

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Posted by johncoby

Trustee Elections: Cejka vs Brian Bowen’s Buddy

January 13, 2025

CONFIRMED: Joe Machol, currently a Seabrook Council Member will be challenging Trustee Jessica Cejka.

OMG! I meant SCOTT Bowen. LOL Brian is Scott’s brother. He was in the same Boy Scout troop at the same time my son was!

Billionaires for Bowen.

I hate to spread rumors but….looks like CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen has been actively looking for a candidate to challenge Trustee Jessica Cejka and has found one. Bowen has done this before recruiting Misty Dawson, Christine Parizo, and his latest Peter Lauzon. All three lost.

Dawson was one of the most unqualified candidates to ever run for an education position yet she lost to Trustee Cejka by just 40 votes. She eventually sued, with the help of the Republic Party, then conceded.

Christine Parizo lost by 25 points, not votes, points. She demanded a recount and complained to the Texas Attorney General who denied her request. At that point it was cloooooosed. She claimed the election was “rigged”. It wasn’t.

Peter Lauzon was another unqualified candidate but was a good buddy of Bowen. He was caught on film advocating for all the chaotic nonsense Bowen brought to the board. He was also funded by Defend Texas Liberty PAC an extreme fair right PAC solely funded by two extreme right wing billionaires in north Texas. That PAC dissolved after their leadership met with white supremacist Nick Fuentes. Bowen also has very disturbing associations with white supremacists. Read about that here.

Bowen has also received donations from this PAC as well as being associated with Steven Hotze another wealthy extremist with the Harris County Republic Party. Hotze has since been charged with 4 felonies including assault with a deadly weapon and organized crime. All of this stemming from a false claim of ballot harvesting. Hotze is also being sued civilly for his role in the assault.

Trustee Cejka has served one term and should be returned by the voters. Her heart seems to be in the right place which is the most important qualification for the position. She has great educational background including a Bachelors degree in mathematics from Texas A&M. Masters in education (Instructional Technology) from UHCL. Masters in education (Educational Administration) from UHCL. And she has served on the CCISD Board for one term.

Bowen and his Billionaire Buddies have other priorities which do not include parents, teachers, and students. I expect Bowen and his Buddy to run as a coalition funded by one of the many extremist organizations in Texas. Maybe his buddy doesn’t share Bowen’s priorities but there is absolutely no reason to challenge someone who is doing the job of Trustee and doing it well.

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Posted by johncoby

Harris County Republic Party’s chief voter fraudster going to trial

January 10, 2025
From the Houston Chronicle

This is some serious stuff.

Steven Hotze, who led an effort to rid Harris County of illegal voting and harvesting of votes, is scheduled to go to trial this year on a number of serious charges concerning….wait for it….voter fraud. In 2020 a retired police officer, working for Hotze’s Liberty Center for God and County organization, stopped and held at gunpoint an air conditioning repairman claiming he had a truck full of harvested ballots. He didn’t. The officer was charged with a number of felonies including assault and false imprisonment.

Later Hotze was also charged with 4 felonies including engaging in organized crime, Case # 188121801010. The AC repairman has since filed a civil suit against Hotze and Liberty Center for God and County. You can read the entire complaint here. There is a damning recording between Hotze and a US Marshal, Lt Governor Dan Patrick’s brother asking for help for the arrest of the AC repairman.

Now Hotze is trying to delay his trial. His attorney, the former Chair of the Harris County Republic Party, Jared Woodfill, claims the charges are all part of a great conspiracy by the Democratic Party. From the Houston Chronicle:

“[Hotze] was only criminally prosecuted due to his political views and the fact that Liberty Center was investigating voter fraud in an election where the Democrats were successful,” Hotze’s lawyer, Jared Woodfill, wrote in the filing.

Just to be clear there has been no evidence of voter fraud discovered in Harris County or anywhere for that matter. None. Zero. Zip. Nada. All lawsuits stemming from the 2020 election claiming voter fraud were dismissed. A year and a half of investigation by the Texas Rangers and DA Kim Ogg resulted in a giant whomp whomp ending in an embarrassing press conference.

The AC repairman’s suit is scheduled for Feb 17. This ought to be interesting.

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Posted by johncoby

Trump to declare Jan 6 as Patriot Day

January 6, 2025

We should be so proud, boys.

Just wait for it. It is coming. After he pardons those who attacked the capitol including the leader of the Proud Boys who is serving 22 years for seditious conspiracy, Trump is going to declare Jan 6 as Patriot Day. This is how dictators behave. This is how they thrive and with the cowards in the Republic Party he will rein unchecked. Members of the Capitol Police lost their lives during the Jan 6 riots. Those who beat these officers with flags and sprayed them with irritants will soon be released, pardoned, and will probably be invited to the White House for a formal apology.

This is who you voted for. This is who you are. Go fuck yourself.

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Posted by johncoby

2025 The year of Luigi?

December 31, 2024

Violence is never an acceptable response. (except for Jan 6 according to the Republic Party)

What could possibly drive someone to killing? Many years ago during a hearing in Austin I was describing what homeowners experienced during their fight with their homebuilder concerning a major construction defect in their new home. I had experienced this frustration dealing with my own defect back in 1992. It’s not fun watching as someone with the power to make things right turn to their team of attorneys and ignore you. It’s not fun looking for help from the court system just to learn the builders are well protected by the laws that were originally designed to protect you. It can eat on you and I can see someone being driven to violence. (I had my own thoughts about doing something but it was not violent)

Well years later a man in Georgia after arguing with his homebuilder for over 6 months invited him back to his house and killed him. He served 10 years in prison. Luigi Mangione did the same thing taking the life of an insurance company CEO. He took matters into his own hands much like the Jan 6 rioters. According to trump the rioters were justified because they thought the election was rigged. (hum….who in the living fuck convinced them of that?) Maybe trump will pardon Luigi since he believed his violence also justified.

Maybe others will get the idea of taking advantage of our lax gun laws and solve their problems with their God given right to the 2nd Amendment. America is poised to bring back western style justice against those who harm them financially or physically. When the criminal and civil courts abandoned you and you are left with only memories of a loved one, or left with the job of taking care of a loved one for the rest of their life, or left in financial ruin and you have easy access to military style firearms what could possibly go wrong for those who are responsible? Top that off with elected officials on every level of government condoning violence as they did on Jan 6.

Maybe Luigi did us a favor, but in the wrong way. Maybe CEO’s might want to think twice about screwing people. Maybe homebuilders might want to fix the defects they created. Maybe law makers might want to create laws to protect us from gun violence instead of offering useless thoughts and fucking prayers.

In America those who take the law into their own hands usually end up being held accountable….except for trump’s Jan 6 rioters. So America, stand back and stand by.

FILE PHOTO: ear gas is released into a crowd of protesters, with one wielding a Confederate battle flag that reads “Come and Take It,” during clashes with Capitol police at a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S, January 6, 2021. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

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Cliffnotes: Matt Gaetz investigation report

December 24, 2024

And to think trump was going to appoint him as the United States Attorney General. Based upon this report he would have been perfect for the job! This is who people wanted to lead our country.

I took one for the team and read the House Ethics report on former Congressman Matt Gaetz. It’s full of evidence concerning prostitution, rape, drugs,human trafficking, group sex, misuse of office resources, and obstruction of justice. Here is their conclusion:

Ouch. Here are my notes:

  • Gaetz was asked to volunteer his testimony in his defense. He refused.
  • Gaetz was subpoenaed to appear before the committee. He refused.
  • Many of the allegations stem from Goetz’s relationship with former county tax collector in Florida named Joel Greenberg, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2022 
  • Evidence showed that Gaetz would split the cost of their sexual encounters, hotels, and drug use
  • Gaetz paid a woman $750 with a check marked as “tuition” after having group sex with her and others.
  • After a photo was released of Gaetz and a woman he arranged to meet with in Key West, Gaetz denied he knew who she was. Evidence later showed he paid her $650 the day after the photo was taken.
  • Greenberg introduced women to Gaetz via SeekingArrangement.com. One “older” women, who was 25 at the time, was paid to attend “events” ranging from $500-$1000 each.
  • Victim A was 17 at the time. Gaetz denied knowing she was 17. Evidence showed he paid her for sex.
  • Gaetz had group sex with her. She was a junior in high school.
  • The Committee did not receive any evidence indicating that Representative Gaetz was aware that Victim A was a minor when he had sex with her.  
  • The group sex was at a home of a lobbyist, Mr. Dorworth, who claimed to the committee he was not at his house when the sex occurred. Phone records obtained by the committee proved otherwise.
  • Gaetz denied having sex for money and using drugs. The committee provided evidence to the contrary from 15 women.
  • Gaetz refused to answer specific questions about sex, drugs, and payment with Victim A, the 17 year old.
  • Gaetz asked his Chief of Staff to help one of the women he took to the Bahamas to obtain a passport which was usually handled by lower staff. she lived outside of his district. He paid her $1000 which she claimed was for the passport.
  • Gaetz whined about “weaponizing” the Ethics Committee and obstructed the investigation.
  • Some of the women feared retaliation for their participation in the investigation
  • The Committee did NOT find evidence of federal human trafficking laws
  • The Committee Found that Representative Gaetz Engaged in Commercial Sex 
  • The Committee Found that Representative Gaetz Violated Florida’s Statutory Rape Law 
  • The Committee Found Representative Gaetz Used Illegal Drugs 
  • The Committee Found that Representative Gaetz Violated the House Gift Rule 
  • The Committee Found Representative Gaetz Dispensed Special Privileges and Favors to Individuals with Whom He Had a Personal Relationship 
  • The Committee Found Representative Gaetz Sought to Obstruct Its Investigation of His Conduct 

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HCDE drops censure of Trustee Dick for a $40,000 donation

December 19, 2024

This is pretty damn strange.

So last month the Harris County Department of Education Board unanimously approved to censure Trustee Eric Dick for lapses in ethical conduct including refusing to pay $40,000 in fines to the Texas Ethics Commission, refusing to honor a subpoena, providing false information to the TEC, providing false information under oath along other things stemming from an ethics complaint filed in 2019. You can read the detailed results of that investigation here.

A month later they reversed course and in lieu of censure Eric Dick promises to donate $40,000 to the educational foundation of Harris County Department of Education “to be used for the CASE debates program for future lawyers.”. Elizabeth Sander of the Houston Chronicle wrote a detailed article about Dick’s ethical problems with the Texas Ethics Commission, the Harris County and Galveston County courts, and for possibly illegally soliciting clients affected by the Maui wildfires. The proposed censure was based only on his conduct concerning the Texas Ethics Commission. According to the article:

“In lieu of a censure, the Harris County Department of Education accepted a $40,000 donation,” Cobarruvias said. “But he still owes the taxpayers and the Ethics Commission $40,000.”

I highly recommend that HCDE cash his check as soon as possible.

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Posted by johncoby

Texas Homeowners Left Behind: The Insurance Crisis

December 18, 2024

This should really piss you off.

Sixteen years ago States along the coast began implementing a plan called Fortified, including Alabama. According to an article written by Megan Kimble of the Houston Chronicle: “Alabama offers $10,000 grants to homeowners to upgrade their roofs – and requires insurers to give discounts of 25% to 55% to those who do”. That program started 16 years ago!! What the hell did elected officials in Texas do?

Nothing. Not a goddamn thing and now we are paying for it. Literally. We are now in crisis mode with premiums out the roof, excessive deductibles, and companies threatening to leave the Sate. In the upcoming legislative session bills will be filed to protect the insurance industry at our expense. While other States were actively working to lower the risk our elected officials did nothing to protect our homes. This article is another in her series concerning home insurance. It’s a VERY good read. I should be available to read here. It might make you mad. Let me summarize:

  • While other states on the coast, like Alabama, took action 15 years ago to reduce the risk to homeowners, Texas did nothing, at all, except pass the cost of the risk to consumers.
  • Other states give incentives to homeowners to “fortify” their homes and requires reduced insurance premiums.
  • A bill has been filed in Texas to create a program similar to Alabama’s “Fortified” but does NOT require a reduction in premiums
  • Of the country’s 70,000 Fortified homes, only 200 are in Texas and half of those were built by Habitat for Humanity.
  • While Texas officials were busy cutting regulations and chasing social issues we were left to find our own insurance solutions.
  • I love this quote “Home builders along the coast say they already follow stringent building standards and don’t need more.”
  • “In coastal Alabama and North Carolina – both states that incentivize Fortified standards – researchers say homes certified through the program have shown a 20% reduction in losses compared to non-Fortified homes.”
  • Alabama offers $10,000 grants to homeowners to upgrade their roofs – and requires insurers to give discounts of 25% to 55% to those who do. That program started 16 years ago!!

So take some time to read the article then make plans to attend our next meeting.

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Posted by johncoby

Houston Mayor John Whitmire. At 75 there is still time to grow up

December 14, 2024

As a supporter of Whitmire for Houston Mayor it is very disturbing that instead of working across the aisle and bringing the city together he has opted to act much like out going District Attorney Kim Ogg, petty, childish, and unprofessional.

Whitmire has had an ongoing feud with Judge Lina Hidalgo. I am sure, based upon Hidalgo’s past, she has some fault to this toxic relationship but this latest stupidity is all on Whitmire. During an interview with the Houston Chronicle he stated:

“She’s fixing to announce that she’s not going to run,” Whitmire told The Chronicle. “She’s not enjoying her work. And she’s happy now. I saw on social media she got back this weekend from her wedding destination,” “But let me tell you what, this is a tough job at any level. You definitely lose your privacy. She’s obviously documented some of her emotional issues, which, this is a terrible profession to be in if you’re struggling with pressure.”  

None of that is true. Much like a high school freshman on the cheerleading squad of the Jr varsity football team Whitmire can’t seem to miss an opportunity to spread unfounded rumors or spread gossip whether it is against Hidalgo or Controller Hollins. Seriously dude, it is time to learn when to keep your fuckin mouth shut and grow up. You are a grown ass man for fuck sakes.

You only have 3 years left in office. Grow up and focus on more important things such as picking up our trash on time. For once.

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Posted by johncoby

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