Fort Bend United is a General Purpose Committee and registered with the Texas Ethics Commission in 2019. The Treasurer is Shapnick Khan. More on him later. FBU recently mailed a multi paged color booklet to Democratic primary voters with the title of Harris County Democratic Voters Guide. Let’s discuss…..

This booklet did NOT come from the Harris County Democratic Party. It did NOT come from the Harris County Elections Administrator. A mailer of this type requires a significant amount of money depending upon the number that was mailed. As an example a single page endorsement mailer to 16,000 voters would cost about $8000. The mailer states, as by law, it was paid for by FBU but….

According to the Texas Ethics Commission FBU has not spent any money for the entire year of 2022. FBU has raised about $67,000 since they have registered. They have spent about $50,000 with a few donations to a couple of judicial candidates. They have paid a Houston printing company about $11,000 most coming in 2020 and 2021. 

According to the mailer Absolute ColorPlex, the printer FBU has used in the past, is a Union printer but perusing their site there is no mention of their association with the Union. Maybe they used a different printer? Once again, more on this later.

There are a number of questions that remain such as who printed this mailer, how much did it cost, who paid for it, and why is a GPAC in Fort Bend County messing with Harris County Democrats.

The mailer is deceiving. It may not be illegal much like Eric Dicks famous mailer in 2019. (Note: Eric Dick is scheduled for a formal hearing at the Texas Ethics Commission in March) Here is what I think:

Much like another group which Shapnick Khan has established, FBU is probably run by one or two individuals. The recommendations for endorsement are made by these individuals without interviews or research. The goal is to make it look like a legitimate Democratic political organization is endorsing a couple of select candidates such as Erica Davis and George Risner. Pictured above is George Risner at a party by Shapnick Khan. 

More tomorrow.

During the last gerrymandering session SD15 went through some changes. I have no idea of how much bluer this district become or if it is becoming competitive. Eitherway 3 candidates are running for the seat, 2 Democrats with 1 incumbent, and 1 republican.

The incumbent, Senator John Whitmire, raised about $411,000 since July 2021. He has a Cash on Hand in the millions after serving the district for many years and frugal spending. The challenger Molly Cook raised $51,000 during the same period with $19,000 coming from her husband in the form of a $10,000 donation, and a $1000 in-kind contribution, and a personal loan of about $8000.

The republican George Brian Vachris raised enough money to pay his gas bill, about $1000. 

Pic from Fort Worth Star

With no limits on campaign donations in Texas, Greg Abbott is rolling in dough. 

From July 1, 2021 to the present, Abbott, through the Texans for Greg Abbott PAC, has raised over $20 Million. Over $5 Million came from just 53 donors ranging from $800,000 to $50,000 in donations. His largest donors are Javaid Anwar of Midland Energy for over $800,000, Bobby Cox for $500,000, Tilman Fertitta for $200,000 and Joseph Agresti for $300,000. 

Various PACs, including Wells Fargo and USAA donated considerable amounts of money. $4 Million came from out of state. The entire spreadsheet can be found here. Here is a list of his top donors for this period. Abbott has over $62 Million in Cash on Hand.