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

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.


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.


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.


Cliffnotes: Interim Report on Insurance from the Business and Commerce Committee

January 3, 2025

Underwhelming to say the least.

If you would like to read the report on the interim charges to the Texas Senate Business and Commerce Committee it is available online here starting on page 19. It is interim charge 7 titled “Addressing the Rising Cost of Insurance. It is only 2 pages. Here are my notes/thoughts.

  • The Committee held a hearing on Oct 1. The testimony was dominated by the industry.
  • Texas has the 2nd largest market in the nation bringing in $290 Billion in premiums.
  • The increase in premiums are due to climate change, inflation, labor expenses, supply chain disruptions and reinsurance (LOL. They are using climate change against us to increase our premiums. Inflation is well under control and has been for a while but it did NOT account for a doubling of premiums. Supply chain disruptions were corrected years ago.)
  • They ignored the inflated cost of roofing after an event such as hail or extreme weather. Why does a roof cost $24,000 to replace after an event, but only $6000 at other times?
  • They blame us for not “shopping around”.
  • TDI stated only 4 companies left Texas in 2024 but ignored comments from area such as the Bay Area where 5 of 6 members of the Texas Coalition for Affordable Insurance Solutions (TCAIS) will not longer write policies.
  • There was a significant uptick in the Texas Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan from 72,626 to 91,841 from 2003 to 2024.
  • TDI claims homeowners in Texas saw an average rate increase of 21% in 2023. I’m not sure if that is a rise in rates or premiums which are two different things.
  • TDI reviewed 1313 rate filings with 107 filings withdrawn, 78 rejected for administrative discrepancies. They did not disclose how many rate increases were rejected by TDI.
  • The recommendations are basic if not ridiculous.
    • Implement guardrails to protect against unfair pricing practices, which could include, but is not limited to, rate filings and premiums assessed to policyholders.
    • Support the efforts of both TDI and OPIC to improve notice to policyholders about rate changes, coverage reductions, and comparison-shopping tools.


Community Meeting on the rising cost of Home Insurance

January 2, 2025

I have secured the Webster Activity Center on Jan 7, 2025 for another community meeting to discuss and take action concerning the rising cost of home insurance in our area. We will focus on the upcoming legislative session and how we can take the opportunity to influence our elected officials. For those who are not aware this session begins Jan 14 and will continue till June 2

Our elected officials have been invited to attend and discuss what we can do. Please save the date, invite your neighbors, and I will see you Tuesday. Preliminary agenda:

  • Short recap of the last meeting
  • Update on upcoming legislation
  • How can we participate in the process
  • Open forum, Q&A

Join our newsletter at www.tinyurl.com/BayAreaHouston

Tuesday Jan 7, 2005 6:00PM-8:00PM
Webster Activity Center
311 Pennsylvania Ave
Webster Texas 77598


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.


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 

Movie Review: Homestead

December 23, 2024

Watch it? Rent it? Skip it?

For fuck sakes. Skip it. That was a complete waste of 2 hours. Great idea, stupid script, poor acting, incredibly dumb plot. This movie is the complete package. It has a load of paranoia by a bunch of government hating, gun toting, former military, bad acting, survivalists who sees an opportunity after a nuclear bomb hits Los Angelos and takes out the grid across the country. People flock out of the Los Angeles area running to the hills looking for someone who has food, water and shelter. Many camp out at the gates of a property in Colorado who just happens to have food, water, and shelter but won’t let them in. This is where the movie remains.

The worst part of the movie is when the wife of the property owner ends the show with having faith in god to bring peace and love and joy and more food, water, and a fuckin TV show once in a while. OMG it is so corny. God will fix it all just like he fixed Los Angeles, just prior to being blown off the goddamn map.

It’s an incredibly stupid movie but has an after credit that is not worth watching because this is the beginning of a series. One of the gun toting, government hating, bad acting, survivalists asks that you scan a QR code on the scree to view the 1st episode of the new series.

Just don’t do it. This is just a stupid ass movie.


The cost of price gouging after a weather event. Bags of ice. Gasoline. Roof repairs.

December 19, 2024

And you wonder why your insurance premiums are so high?

I filed a claim for roof damage after Hurricane Ike in 2008. I received about $5000 from USAA, my insurance company at the time. Bids for the roof replacement ranged from $10,000-$16,000. At the time I did not have the extra funds to pay for the roof and since there was no leaks I put the repairs off for 2 years.

In 2010 I had my roof replaced for $4800. One of the companies that quoted over $10,000 in 2008 provided a quote of $6800 in 2010. At the time I knew the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Insurance and mentioned the price gouging after a hearing in Austin. Soon afterward he left the Commission and I ended my consumer activism.

So here we are in 2024 and I filed a claim for hail damage. Eventually I had my roof replaced for a cost that was listed at $24,000 about 5 times what I paid in 2010 just 14 years ago. I’ve heard from others in my subdivision whose estimates were even higher, $32,000 for one homeowner. What is disturbing is that the insurance companies are paying these inflated prices. It’s a win-win for the roofer and the insurance company who can simply pass the inflated cost to consumers in higher premiums. Everyone is happy except for the consumer.

Last year Harris County Attorney filed a number of suits resulting in settlements for price gouging of gasoline. According to Houston Public Media:

The Bellaire location allegedly sold regular unleaded gasoline for $3.79 and $4.29 per gallon, an increase of 25% and 41% respectively from the gas station’s pre-hurricane price of $3.03. The Baytown location was allegedly selling premium gasoline for $5.49 per gallon, which is 44% higher than the gas station’s pre-hurricane price of $3.80.

Price gouging after an event like a hurricane is illegal. Raising the cost of a gallon of gas by 40 cents can be considered price gouging and could be investigated by the County Attorney. Charging 2 to 4 times the regular price for a roof should be considered price gouging.

I’ve asked the County Attorney to investigate.


Bay Area Houston

Hard hitting political commentary always full of wit in Houston Texas.

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