Sorry to rain on your parade. But I have a question.

County Citizen has received a message with a list off MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THE BRUCE TOUGH CAMPAIGN.

The list is reproduced below. The list is presented as an example of abject cronyism. And it is. Petroleum Wholesale led the pack with a check for a cool $5000.00.  I don’t like that Bruce took that money, but fair is fair.

County Citizen wrote about  impropriety of accepting Petroleum Wholesale money back in July 2014, at that time  I pointed out that that the Texas Patriots PAC was the recipient of money from a questionable source to which the PAC replied “We see no problem accepting funds from this group.”

Here is what I wrote about PWI –

There I learned the second-highest donor ($5000.00 ) for the year 2013 was one Petroleum Wholesale Lp. I already knew that company as a favored tax abatement recipient receiving 100 percent property tax abatement for 2008 –17. http://tinyurl.com/oysxovu Tax abatements are alleged to be granted to top companies that return a net benefit to the good-hearted and trusting taxpayers that is blessed to receive them into their community. The second thing I knew bothered me. In 2008, PWI was the subject of an eight-week trial for improper fuel dispenser calibration and in 2011 a subject of fuel dilution allegations. One report reveals “5,766,243 gallons of gasoline and 727,339 fraudulent sales transactions. The jury found Petroleum Wholesale LP liable for $18,765,411 in restitution, $8,494,212 in civil penalties and more than $2.7 million in fees to the state.”

So a misplaced tax abatement granted to a company involved in consumer fraud is a major underwriter of a high-profile Tea Party group. I figured the TPP would give the crony capitalist cash back when alerted. They replied in part, “We see no problem accepting funds from this group.”

You can read the rest of my wordy letter to the editor here.

Here is my question.  Will the candidates know as the  “RESIDENT ADVOCATES” please  confront the PAC , and condemn the practice of accepting corporate donations from plundering tax abatement recipients, chronic swindlers of the public and cronies in general.  Please.

MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO BRUCE TOUGH CAMPAIGN

Note: Not a single donor has been identified by his Principal Occupation as required on the TEC form.

$5,000 – Petroleum Wholesale has developed an innovative retail concept, Main Street Market, which offers branded motor fuel and retail offerings such as discount groceries, hardware, auto parts, premium cigars, apparel and fast food all under one roof. This new to the industry hybrid retail concept includes branding with major oil companies such as Chevron, Texaco, Shell, ConocoPhillips and Gulf, with QSR food franchises such as Subway and Steak n Shake and with national specialty retailers such as Ace Hardware, True Value Hardware and Carquest.

$500 – David Richmond – son of Michael Richmond, Woodforest Bank vice chairman & former President and CEO of The Woodlands Developer.

$500 – Vicki Richmond – wife of Michael Richmond, former v.p. of administration for Woodlands Developer

$300 – Virgil Yoakum – Developer of Woodforest Community, division of Johnson Development

$250 – Greater Houston Builders Association

$250 – Blair Law Firm – Nelda Blair. Chairman of the $350M bond committee

$100 – Gil Staley, President of EDP (should remain neutral since they have to work with all Directors)

$100 – Debra Staley, wife of Gil Staley, former Public Affairs Director of Woodlands Developer

$400- Robert Heineman, vice president of original Woodlands Developer, now Hughes Corp.

$100- Robert Heineman, vice president of original Woodlands Developer, now Hughes Corp. “                   

$500 – Tim Welbes, co-president of Woodlands Developer, now Hughes Corp.

$250 – Alex Sutton, co-president of Woodlands Developer, now Hughes Corp.

$1,000 – Rocky Del Papa – Protagonist of $350M road bond with financial interest in outcome.

$500 – Peter Doyle, Executive V. P. of Development for Hughes Corp.

$500 – Fred Caldwell, Commercial Real Estate Developer