Not Raising Campaign Cash: Sema Hernandez

October 15, 2019

As I have said many times in the past:

Running for office is not a game. The position has a direct impact on people’s lives whether it is timely trash collection or providing a safe neighborhood with our police and our fire fighters. Don’t cheapen the office by running just for the sake of running and distracting from those who have a clear understanding of what they are doing and are qualified to run.

And let me add…if you can’t follow the laws, you shouldn’t be running to make the laws. Case in point, Sema Hernandez running for United States Senate in Texas. I have searched the Federal Election Commission’s website for her filings for both 2018 and 2020 with no luck. I found Congressman O’Rourkes who raised over $80 Million for his race in 2018. Sema’s reports are no where to be found. I have reached out many times and have not received a response.

Not filing reports is against the law. If Sema has filed they are well hidden. If she hasn’t she should stop with this game and quit. Besides not having any experience to be running for office, she doesn’t seem interested in following the laws of the Federal Elections Commission. Hopefully any organization that intends to invite her to participate in a debate will reconsider until her reports are found.


Raising Campaign Cash: Texas CD22 Candidates

October 15, 2019

UPDATE: Sri almost out raises all other candidates combined running for CD22!

UPDATE: Sri out raises his primary opponents 8-1 with $817,139. Reed raised $114k, Moore $112K. As expected, Kathaleen Wall put $600,048 of her own money into her campaign. Harris raised $211,000 including a $120,000 loan.

I’m expecting Kathaleen Wall to file with a few million of her own money. She ran in the republican primary in CD2 with $6 Million of her own money. She came in 3rd place. The three who have filed already have not been very successful. Most are using their own money or depending upon in-kind donations. Chevalier received about $6700 in donations with one being $4000, $1300 over the limit.

Look for more updates soon.

Candidate Raised Spent COH Loans
Kulkarni, Sri 817,139 299,219 $545,687 $0
Moore Nyanza $112,311 $102,863 $9,447 $16,469
Reed Derrick $114,137 $60,268 $53,868 $0
Chevalier, Keli $23,269 $27,972 $0 $4,000
Walz, Thaddeus $14,030 $2,837 $11,192 $13,460
Haggard, Douglas $5,000 $0 $5,000 $5,000
Hinton, Mathew $0 $0 $0 $0
Steele, Howard $42,061 $42,061 $120 $42,181
Miller, Diana $0 $0 $0 $0
Phan, Shandon $0 $0 $0 $0
Harris Hoss $211,247 $1,320 $209,926 $120,000
Kathaleen Wall $601,048 $137,435 $463,612 $600,048

Raising Campaign Cash: Eric Dick

October 15, 2019
From the Houston Chronicle

Dick is pulling a Buzbee.

Eric Dick is on the Harris County Department of Education and as predicted has made a fool out of himself and his fellow republicans. He filed a complaint against fellow board member and fellow republican, Mike Wolfe, for sexual harassment. Dick also filed an ethics complaint against Wolfe for not reporting a $28,000 loan from Dick. Dick really doesn’t play well with others. See Dick speak:

The investigation clearly shows that Mike Wolfe is a pervert. He should resign immediately. If he refuses, I beg the County Attorney to file a law suit to remove him. It is unacceptable to serve as an elected official when you sexually harassed someone.” – Eric Dick

Now see Dick run for Houston City Council and like Buzbee can’t raise money. In his latest report Dick raised only $1,435 but he loaned himself $75,000 as well as spent $93,248 out of his own pocket. It’s a pattern for Dick. In 2015 he spent $74,652 out of his own pocket in his race for Houston City Council. His $75,000 investment didn’t work out very well. He lost.

Like Buzbee he is financing his campaign with $168,2348 out of his own pocket trying to win a seat he is not qualified to hold especially when there is an extremely well qualified, enthusiastic, candidate in the same race. 
BTW the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association has endorsed Dick. They don’t know dick.

Why are you even running for COH City Council?

October 11, 2019

If you are considering running for office, you might want to find a treasurer that knows the laws or at the very least understand that you have to report how much money you raised and how much money you spent. It’s so easy, a caveman can do it.

There are a number of candidates who must think running for office is a game especially some running for Mayor. Naoufal Houjami, Victoria Romero, Johnny Taylor, Roy Vasquez, and Derrick Broze haven’t filed their reports yet. Demetria Smith has filed a report with zero funds raised, spent, and COH. None of these candidates understand the seriousness of running for Mayor of the 4th largest city in the United States. They haven’t been invited to debates and rightfully so. They are not viable candidates.

Larry Blackmon, Yolanda Flores, Jim Honey, Jose Gonzalez, Javier Gonzalez, Jennifer Laney, Jason Rowe, and Ralph Garcia have not filed. Brad Batteau has filed a zero report. 

Sam Cleveland, running for District E has raised only $5682 with $352 COH.

In the At Large Position 1 race Georgia Provost raisted $4850 with only $468 COH.  Larry Blackmon and Yolanda Flores didn’t file. 
In Position 2 Emily Detoto raised $234 for a campaign that requires $100,000 or more in a competitive race. Mike Griffin “run everywhere, every time” raised only $600. Jim Honey didn’t file.
In Position 3 Janaeya Carmouche raised $3,975 and Marcel McClinton raised $14,787. These are surprising numbers only because Carmouche has talent and Marcel does not (yet). I expected more, and less.
In Postion 4 Ericka McCrutcheon loaned herself $34,000. James Joseph raised $94K but $58K was an in-kind donation from a campaign firm. James has talent. Maybe he just needs a new campaign firm. Christel Bastida raised only $1103. Javier Gonzalez, Jennifer Laney, and Jason Rowe didn’t file.
In Postion 5 every candidate had poor fundraising totals except for Sallie Alcorn. Eric Dick raised only $1,435, loaned himself $75,000, and spent $93K out of his own pocket. Much like Buzbee he is attempting to buy a seat at the table. Brad Batteau who runs for something every year raised $0. Michell Bonton raised only $200 but loaned herself $20,000. Ralph Garcia didn’t file.


Raising Campaign Cash: COH Candidates (Oct 7)

October 7, 2019

One more update coming. Figures are for the period ending Sept 30, 2019.

Notes: Tony Buzbee raised $0 in the quarter with an outstanding loan of $10,000,000.

King loaned himself $200,000. He has $410,000 of his own money invested in this run for office.

Council Member Knox raised only $32K while his opponent raised $81,000.

Kubosh also raised just $40k and has a $276,000 outstanding loan.

Eric Dick loaned himself $75,000 and spent $93K of his own money. (more about Dick later).

The report by James Joseph is confusing. He filed on 9/9/2019. Of the $94k raised, $58k is an in kind donation.

Waiting for Lovell.

CANDIDATE COH Raised Spent Loans
MAYOR
Sylvester Turner (inc) $1,618,015 $733,324 $2,235,523 $0
Tony Buzbee $4,167,503 $0 $3,475,058 $8,000,000
Bill King $263,448 $281,829 $550,022 $410,000
Sue Lovell
28,493
10929
0
Dwight Boykins $80,900 $153,790 $19,100 $0
Kendall Baker $3,919 $0 $16,340 $20,000
Naoufal Houjami Didn’t File
Victoria Romero Didn’t File
Johnny Taylor Didn’t File
Roy Vasquez Didn’t File
Derrick Broze Didn’t File
Demetria Smith $0 $0 $0 $0
CONTROLLER
Chris Brown (inc) $274,291 $100,990 $61,079 $75,000
*Orland Sanchez $23,651 $30,057 $23,651
District E
Dave Martin (inc) $147,952 $8,150 $20,389 $0
Sam Cleveland $352 $5,682 $5,330 $0
Position 1
Mike Knox (inc) $24,990 $32,188 $35,540 $0
Raj Salhotra $180,947 $81,218 $67,748 $0
Georgia Provost $468 $4,850 $4,775 $0
Larry Blackmon Didn’t File
Yolanda Flores Didn’t File
Position 2
David Robinson (inc) $255,938 $52,008 $48,267 $0
Willie Davis $8,832 $20,665 $29,110 $3,000
Emily Detoto $439 $234 $3,124 $500
Mike Griffin $872 $600 $650 $0
Jim Honey Didn’t File
Position 3
Michael Kubosh (inc) $122,678 $40,035 $39,076 $276,000
Janaeya Carmouche $708 $3,975 $7,156 $0
Marcel McClinton $4,895 $14,787 $18,577 $0
Jose Gonzalez Didn’t File
Position 4
Nick Hellyar $32,763 $49,871 $36,372 $0
Bill Baldwin $52,074 $110,394 $38,562 $0
Anthony Dolcefino $7,112 $15,355 $9,002 $0
Letitia Plummer $32,139 $9,834 $23,490 $0
**James Joseph $36,250 $94,450 $84,425 $0
Ericka McCrutcheon $150 $3,146 $23,305 $34,000
Christel Bastida $750 $1,103 $51 $200
Tiko Hausman $2,098 $5,845 $8,654 $0
Javier Gonzalez Didn’t File
Jennifer Laney Didn’t File
Jason Rowe Didn’t File
Position 5
Sallie Alcorn $258,320 $71,421 $66,284 $0
Catherine Flowers $2,157 $8,015 $12,471 $2,987
Ashton Woods $2,167 $9,791 $7,624 $0
Marvin McNeese $3,305 $9,705 $13,305 $30,000
Eric Dick $1,435 $1,435 $93,248 $75,000
Brad Batteau $0 $0 $0 $0
Sonia Rivera $802 $2,335 $1,732 $0
Michelle Bonton $20,000 $200 $10,005 $20,000
Ralph Garcia Didn’t File

Tony Buzbee meets the Press after botched intern controversy

October 3, 2019

That didn’t end well.


Greg Groogan of Fox26 and Mario Diaz of KPRC ran a story about an “intern” that was hired at a salary of $95,000. Buzbee jumped on this controversy like Donald Trump jumped on a porn star. He held a press conference. He called for the Texas Attorney General to start an investigation. He called the Texas Rangers. And so far they haven’t returned any of his calls and for good reason.

The “intern” according to the Houston Chronicle, has a master’s degree in legal studies from Texas State University and a law degree from Texas Southern University. He also has very significant experience. From the Chronicle:

Turner released a statement Tuesday explaining that the position is part of the airport system’s “Executive Internship Program” and said Agumagu’s salary “is commensurate with his education and experience.” Houston Airport System Director Mario Diaz created the program “to attract new talent in the field of aviation” and to serve as an entry to a city management training program, according to a 2018 memo released by the city Tuesday.

The bottom line is this is 1995 all over again like Wayne Dolcefino’s botched investigation story against Turner that ended in a lawsuit. From a previous post.

Wayne Dolcefino was an investigative reporter (sic) for KTRK-TV. He had a boner for Sylvester Turner back in 1995 when Turner first ran for Mayor. Dolcefino was eventually sued and lost for a story about insurance fraud and a jury awarded $5.5 Million. 

Groogan and Diaz have been nominated for the Wayne Dolcefino Investigations Gone Wrong award. Buzbee is still waiting by the phone wiping the egg off his face.


Trump's mini-me: Tony Buzbee

October 2, 2019

OK. I’m working on something…but until then…I think I found Trump’s Mini-Me. Tony will do to Houston what Trump has done to us!


The three faces of Tony Buzbee

October 1, 2019

Much like Donald Trump, when someone tells you Tony Buzbee is a rich, politically ignorant, jackass, believe them.

Buzbee, who is running for Mayor of Houston, likes to claim he is an “independent” yet has a history of massive donations to Donald Trump and the Republican Party and donations to the local Democratic Party to help wipe out Republican Judges in Harris County. (It worked!) There is nothing worse than someone who is two faced, willing to tell you what ever you want to hear depending upon who you are or, in the newest case, who you love.

It has been rumored Buzbee was cozy with one of the most homophobic, hateful,  “christians” in the Houston area. Now it is official. Hotze has officially endorsed Buzbee and we have pictures to prove it. This is who Buzbee is sucking up to:

“The illegitimate SCOTUS ruling does not name Texas, so fight those lousy bastards,” said Hotze, president of Conservative Republicans of Texas, a group influential in Harris County GOP primaries. “They hate God and want to let the Sodomites queer our country.”

Tony Buzbee is a rich, politically ignorant, jackass. Believe me.


Activists protest Texas State Representative Little Baby Briscoe Cain

September 23, 2019

Gun safety activists held a great protest a block away from Texas State Representative “Little Baby” Briscoe Cain’s home. We had a visit by the Deer Park Police thanking us for a lawful and peaceful protest. Cain also stopped at the intersection but refused to look at us or engage but he sent two 18 year olds to attempt to harass us. It didn’t work. They were armed with NRA talking points but clearly were not educated on gun rights. It was like talking to a stump.

The protest was in response to Cain’s threat to Presidential Candidate Beto O’Rourke. It was well attended with beautiful weather. Great job Rob! Here are a few pics:


Tony Buzbee likes father, likes son.

September 21, 2019

A couple of pictures are worth a thousand MAGAts.


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