Will CCISD Voters Reject Out of District Billionaire Influence? Again?

April 30, 2025

Michael Smith, the editor of Galveston Daily News said it best:

Our hope is voters are rejecting the incursion of hate-mongering, covert money, outside money, partisan ideology and partisan agendas of all sorts in their decisions about electing local people to volunteer posts.

And former CCISD Board President Laura Dupont said it even better:

The truth is, school boards only work when they reflect the communities they serve — not the agendas of party leadership. That’s why our school board elections are held in May, separate from partisan ballots. We’ve protected that nonpartisan tradition in Texas for over a century because education isn’t supposed to be political.

Over the last decade school boards across the state have been flooded with unlimited money from out of district PACs including Defend Texas Liberty funded by two West Texas Billionaires. In most part they have been successful in winning and controlling school boards bringing chaos, corruption, and cruelty into schools. Do your own research on Keller ISD, Katy ISD, and Friendswood ISD. Friendswood is an example of voters rejecting outside money. The losing candidate raised an outrageous $50,000 from 2 out of district donors. (FYI FISD has only 6 schools. CCISD has over 40)

In the past CCISD voters have rejected this outside money and political influence by rejecting Trustee Bowen’s recruited candidates, Christine Parizo, Misty Dawson, and Pete Lauzon. All three were woefully uneducated in education. Bowen’s buddy, Joe Machol, is also a very poor choice for our kids and Scott Bowen is responsible for this political sideshow and outside influence into the district. On Saturday voters have a chance to put an end to outside, political influence and solidify CCISD as a shining example of putting parents, teachers, students, and tax payers above partisan politics.

As Ms Dupont said:

Local elections matter more than ever. The best way to protect our schools is by electing leaders who are there for the right reasons.

Election Day is May 3 this Saturday.

Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by johncoby

Fact Checking a CCISD Trustee on Election Fraud. Again.

April 29, 2025

It’s Scott Bowen. Again.

During the last CCISD Candidate Forum sponsored by the League City Regional Chamber of Commerce candidates were asked a very simple question: (video here starting at 02:04) “if you lose a close race, would you contest the results?”. Rebecca Lilley was clear with her answer: “Absolutely not. Whatever happens, happens, and I believe that that will be the final result.”

Scott Bowen echoed the Republic Party canned answer: “On contesting results, this time around Harris County and Galveston County are running our elections. I’m glad they are. At the same time, a few years ago, there was a Harris County result that actually was overturned due to problems with that election. I’m hoping that doesn’t happen again, and I don’t think it will, but I think you never say never. So we just hope for a clean and fair election.”

Fact Check:
After losing in the 2022 elections, Scott Bowen’s party sued 22 winning candidates claiming voter irregularities spearheaded by Mattress MAGAt Mac. They did not sue Harris County who actually conducted the election. They sued the actual candidates requiring them to raise money in their defense. After investigations by the courts as well as the Secretary of State, every single suit was dismissed.

The Secretary of State Investigation
According to the Secretary of State, Jane Nelson, a Republican: “The allegations of election fraud in the 2022 Harris County election are total bullshit.” That’s not her exact words buy you get the idea. You can read the entire 147 page report if you want but in short there was no fraud. There was no voter irregularities that would have changed any election. Nothing. Zero. Zip. Nada. They couldn’t even find one single voter who was denied voting. Not one.

Texas Rangers Investigation
Even the Harris county District Attorney, Kim Ogg, had to admit no charges were being filed after an extensive investigation by the Texas Rangers. She had an embarrassing press conference claiming they filed a misdemeanor charge for an unrelated crime. It was eventually dismissed also. Some believed she should have been investigated herself for a baseless investigation.

CCISD Election 2022
This isn’t the first time Bowen’s party has done this. In fact the first time they used this tactic was in CCISD in 2022. Misty Dawson, a Bowen recruit, sued her opponent claiming voter irregularities after losing by 40 votes. She did’t sue the District who ran the election. She sued the winning candidate who had absolutely nothing to do with running the election. Bowen’s buddy caused a considerable amount of chaos concerning CCISD paying for the legal fees of the winning candidate. Even Bowen voted in favor of supporting this. Dawson eventually dropped her suit.

So expect Scott Bowen to whine like a little bitch if he loses.

Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by johncoby

CCISD Trustee gets fact checked

April 22, 2025

It’s sad that Scott Bowen has resorted to falsely attacking his opponent breaking his pledge to the district not to do so. Rebecca’s campaign had to hit back and it is a great ad. Watch till the end with a clip of Bowen bragging about his support for school vouchers.

I have been very clear about Scott Bowen as a CCISD Trustee. You can read about all the reasons he should be replaced with someone who is not interested in partisan politics in our schools in Scott Bowen: A Threat to CCISD Education

Early voting starts today.

Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by johncoby

Caught on Video: CCISD Trustee Candidate

April 21, 2025

The internet is forever.

Smokin Joe Frazier

Smokin Joe Machol has served on the Seabrook City Council for a number of years. He was recruited by Trustee Bowen to run against Trustee Cejka for reasons unknown. Machol has little if any applicable experience for the position especially when running against a sitting Trustee who has served honorably. He has defined himself at a recent forum as the person you may not want on a school board. He skipped one of only two forums open to the public opting to attend a council meeting for a seat he will have for only the next month or so.

The following video from a town hall meeting might add another reason why Smokin Joe Machol should not be put on the school board. Imagine having someone on the board acting like this in front of students and parents. His comments start at 2:18:16.

Early Voting begins today.

Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by johncoby

CCISD Trustee Breaks Campaign Promise and Campaign Laws

April 21, 2025

Well that didn’t take long. So much for civility.

CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen is taking heat for his latest unethical stunt. His mailer claims his opponent “Promised” a $300 million bond. She didn’t. Not once. There were three forums where bonds were discussed and she never promised a bond, for very good reasons. A board member cannot promise a bond. Only voters can approve a bond. A board member can vote to put a bond on the ballot just like Scott Bowen did in 2023 but they can’t promise squat. Scott knows this but sent out his lying mailer anyway. Scott’s opponent, Rebecca Lilley quickly responded with the following video. It’s good.

Breaks Campaign Pledge
Every candidate for CCISD Trustee, including Bowen, signed a Code of Fair Campaign Practices pledging not to be a dick when campaigning. Here is what Bowen agreed to. His form can be found here.

Violation of Texas Ethics Laws
Bowen’s mailer is paid for by Scott Bowen for CCISD Trustee. I could not find the campaign finance reports for this PAC. According to his recent campaign finance report he has spent over $18,000 on his campaign, most coming from his own pocket. Who is funding “Scott Bowen for CCISD Trustee”? Who funded this mailer?

Early voting starts today.

1 Comment | Political | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by johncoby

CCISD Candidate Machol Skips Key Forum. Submits blank bio.

April 17, 2025

Machol, a former NFL referee, was flagged for delay of game.

Not only did Machol fail to attend a candidate forum, he failed to submit a bio for the event. Instead of attending the forum and answering very tough questions from the audience, Machol chose to attend the Seabrook City Council meeting. Machol has only a month left on Seabrook City Council and the council meeting was more important to him than the office he is running for. An office that requires the next 3 years of his attendance if elected.

Besides not showing up, how hard is it to submit a bio for the event? This forum was sponsored by the local PTA organization. These are parents and teachers that would be interested in hearing from Machol besides giving the same old answer for every question, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, and Catholic prayers in school. The District will have very serious issues to resolve next year that no amount of prayers will address. At the very least he should have submitted a bio.

Instead he just forfeited the game and should leave the field of candidates. Permanently.

1 Comment | Political | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by johncoby

CCISD Trustee Scott Bowen’s school voucher bill passes

April 17, 2025

He needs to own it tonight at the forum.

Hopefully the moderator of tonight’s forum will press Scott Bowen on his support of the school voucher bill. Last year Bowen authored a resolution for the State Republic Party in support of vouchers and calling for Greg Abbott to declare it an emergency bill requiring quick passage. (He was caught on video) That resolution was not unanimous. A number of delegates were vocal about Bowen changing the resolution to better suck up to the Governor but it passed anyway. Last night Scott’s wet dream, the voucher bill, passed the House and is one step closer becoming law.

During the hours and hours of testimony were many experts in the field testifying against the voucher bill. Even Republican office holders associated with the Texas Republic Party spoke out against vouchers! The only ones who spoke in favor of vouchers were those who would benefit from the bill including Catholic schools, private schools, and home schoolers. And Scott Bowen.

As reported earlier our State Representative Dennis Paul has been flooded with calls against the voucher bill. He voted for the bill anyway ignoring his constituents and siding with Scott Bowen.

Hopefully the voters in CCISD will reward Bowen and remove him from the Board.

Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by johncoby

WTF? CCISD Booster Club’s gun raffle

April 16, 2025

UPDATE: This fundraiser did NOT have prior approval by Clear Lake Intermediate. It has been shut down. I am sure they can find more appropriate donations that would bring in a good amount of money.

At least it’s not an AR15.

Yesterday a number of parents of children killed in school shootings testified against bad bills concerning gun safety. Also there was a school shooting in Dallas. Luckily, as of now, no one was killed but 4 were injured. Instead of offering an apology for flooding our state with guns Greg Abbott offered useless prayers and hollow promises to the families. From CBS News:

Cecilia and I ask our fellow Texans to join us in praying for the victims’ swift recovery and for the entire Wilmer-Hutchins High School community.

Locally the Leadership Development Corps booster club at Clear Lake Intermediate is having a raffle for a gun and a gun club gift certificate. The gun isn’t an AR15 like the kind that was used for killing 19 children in Uvalde or a sawed off shotgun that was used in the Santa Fe shooting. (BTW the bill parents were speaking against would make sawed off shotguns legal.) This gun is a Canik METE 9mm handgun. Like a sawed off shotgun it is easy to conceal.

You have to wonder what these booster club members are thinking. I was in ROTC in High School. I was the Commander of a military drill team. Our booster club would have never considered raffling off a gun for money. My son was in LDC at CLIS. The parents would have never considered such a raffle. He was a flag bearer and continued that role in the Navy. (He even presented the flag at the NCAA Mens Final Four.) LDC is a great organization but these parents need to read the room.

1 Comment | Political | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by johncoby

Next CCISD Candidate Forum April 17

April 15, 2025

This forum will be a day after the school voucher bill will pass the House. Hopefully candidates will defend their stance on their support of the bill.

Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by johncoby

Who is paying for CCISD Candidate Joe Machol’s campaign?

April 14, 2025

This is a pretty serious question.

Joe Machol is a Seabrook City Council Member. He should know the laws governing elections, but he is either ignorant or deliberately thumbing his nose at the Texas Ethics Commission. Machol has failed to appoint a Treasurer in a timely manner. The law is clear, you must have a Treasurer appointed before you raise or spend money. Machol already have signs and buttons made and yet no appointment of Treasurer was filed. He has since filed one appointing himself.

He has failed to file a campaign finance report. Even if you have no donations (including from yourself) or expenditures you are required to file a report. This should concern everyone in the CCISD district. Who is paying for Machol’s campaign? I would not be surprised if Trustee Scott Bowen promised funding to him from a third party like the Harris County Republic Party or the State party. This way Machol can plead ignorant when mailers are received by voters from the party. I wouldn’t be surprised if their mailer has both Bowen and Machol running as a coalition.

I have asked Mr. Machol about this. I am holding my breath for an answer.

2 Comments | Political | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by johncoby

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »