One, two, a billion

Counting in Fort Worth is always an issue.

The Tarrant County Elections office will soon be recounting the votes for the Tarrant Regional Water District.

Good luck, John Basham!

The Watchdog Slaps the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in the Face

And gets a job at a real paper

Coming soon, to the Dallas Morning News. 

Stay tuned.

Too little too late

The editorial in the Bipolar paper today gives us enough material for the rest of the week.

The TRWD isn't the only group in need of a "slap in the face" as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says.  They, themselves are in need of one.  The "news" paper spent all their time talking about the challengers donations while never once mentioning where the incumbents were getting their money (no-bid TRV contractors - YOUR money).

Their food critic spent all his time trashing the challengers on Facebook.  Some of the attacks against the challengers were down right false.  Any reporter worth their weight could have asked the tax assessor about the challenger Marty Leonard called a "tax deadbeat", they would have received the letter we did during the campaign that shows no taxes owed.

By the way, the incumbents long time political consultant should learn some new tricks. He said the same thing about a candidate in the last water board race, it was false too.

WHY did the paper label the challengers as Tea Party candidates, when they were supported by the Tea Party, and the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, and the Libertarian Party and many folks that are tired of downtown partying on their dime.

What was the vote difference between the incumbents and BNK?

4.  Four votes.  Remember that.

The "news" paper also failed to ask WHY the incumbents weren't attending forums or answering to the taxpayers WHO elected them.  Remember that too.  Ask them WHY they didn't report on the TEC complaint against the Water Board members.  And WHY they didn't investigate allegations that they have been aware of for years?

Now the paper is singing a different tune.  Nobody is buying it.  Or the paper.  Just look at their plummeting stock.

Be sure and read the FW Weekly tomorrow for their exclusive interview with Mary Kelleher.

If you want a laugh, you can read the FWST, it's all they are good for anyway.

If the campaign and vote totals in Saturday’s election for three seats on the Tarrant Regional Water District board of directors struck a bit of fear in the hearts of current board members, that would be a good thing.

But barely alive campaigning has been quite the norm in many water board elections, and that’s the problem. Maybe if board members see themselves more as vulnerable to defeat they’ll put a little more effort into sharing what they do with the people who elect them.

But openness is not the board’s strong suit. It may not quite fit the “secret meetings” label advanced by the challengers, but the TRWD is not a constituent-friendly organization. It has a spiffy website, but try going there to find out when the next board or committee meeting is or what’s on the agenda.

What does a hero look like?

Her.  Mary Kelleher. The new Tarrant Regional Water District Board member.

The record setting vote getter in the history of TRWD elections.

The taxpaying citizen that finally got fed up with the lack of response, transparency and ethics and did something about it.

Thank you to all who voted for Mary, and for BNK.

Watch for more good things to come from all of them.  People like them will change the face of Tarrant County.

Go Mary!

So an attorney walks into a 9-12 meeting...

On April Fool's Day, no less.

Does that make him a Tea Partier?

Maybe someone should focus on their own campaign and quit playing in the water.

And THAT is how you report the News

As usual, the FW Weekly lays it out for you.

Wonder WHO will get the story when the board is tossed out on their butt?  We don't.

Among other things, he said the water board has become a “vehicle used by arrogant, overreaching politicians and bureaucrats to roll over taxpayers and property owners with the ill-advised, outrageously expensive boondoggle known as the Trinity River Vision.”

Newspaper publishers don’t generally control editorial content, but it seems unlikely that the pro-incumbent, pro-Trinity River Vision, serial butt kissing Star-Telegram would have embarrassed itself quite as much with its recent water board election coverage had Connor still been there.

If it walks like a duck...

We found some interesting comments on the Dallas Observer article about the TRWD race.

Vote BNK tomorrow.

There needs to be a house-cleaning at that board. The Star-Telegram is totally in bed with the incumbents. The fact they both freaked out then clammed up when Breitbart posted two stories about it makes both look guilty as sin.

WHAT did he say?

As if you needed another reason to vote for BNK on Saturday.

Jim Oliver, TRWD General Manager gives you one.

Well look WHO's back

Richard Connor jumps in the Water Board race.

 Good thing, cause his paper didn't do the best job on reporting.  No mention that the incumbents have received all their donations from their contractors.

The ones they will turn around and give it back to.  Isn't that YOUR money?

And did you notice in the Star-Telegram they said if the challengers killed the contracts it would be devastating.  A real reporter would have asked, To WHO??

Vote BNK tomorrow.

Since when, you’re wondering, is a water board election important to anyone?

Fair question. The answer: since the water board became the vehicle used by arrogant, overreaching politicians and bureaucrats to roll over taxpayers and property owners with the ill-advised, outrageously expensive boondoggle known as the Trinity River Vision.

Unfortunately, in election after election, voters have been content to rubber-stamp incumbent board members or their designated successors in much the same fashion that the board has rubber-stamped the machinations of the Trinity River Vision Authority, the agency charged with implementing the project. It’s time for that to change.

The water board needs at least one new voice, one fresh perspective, one conscientious member who will represent and advocate for the taxpaying public rather than the political and financial interests of the powerful few who have perpetrated the ever-expanding outrage that is the Trinity River Vision.

Seven candidates are seeking three board seats May 11, including three incumbents and four challengers. The top three vote-getters are elected.

Among the challengers, 42-year-old meteorologist John Basham has the best chance of displacing one of the entrenched board members – and the best chance of effecting changes in the way the board operates if he’s elected.

We urge voters to support John Basham.

WHO to vote for in the water board race?

The usually quiet Tarrant Regional Water District race is causing quite a stir.  It's usually quiet because regular citizens don't usually have the option to stand up to the "7th Street Gang".  They prefer it that way.

But this race is different.  Three challengers are creating a lot of excitement.  You may have read about it in the "news" paper, seeing as how they had several articles in just ONE day this week.  And of course, the daily mandatory Trinity River Vision promotion article (did you know the drive-in opens on Friday.  The parking lot YOU paid for.  Convenient, isn't it?).  WHO knew a water board election was so important?  WHY has one never received that much coverage in Fort Worth Star-Telegram history? Until they voted to postpone their last election, there has been one every two years, right?  They ST always told you to vote for the incumbents.  Have you ever asked WHY? 

We noticed it was quieter today.  We can't help but wonder if that had to do with an outside news organization writing an expose on the TRWD, asking WHY the ST hasn't.  Valid question.

There have been many accusations about the challengers by the incumbents spokespeople.  Notice, they, themselves aren't talking much.  They couldn't be bothered to show up at forums.  They couldn't even be bothered to return a phone call.   Don't they work for YOU?  These don't.

Notice they are having the challengers attacked personally.  Notice the challengers are attacking their record.  What they have done or not done while they've been on the board the last 60 years (combined)?  Need proof?  Go here.

Someone is standing up for YOU. Don't miss the opportunity. Be a part of it.

VOTE Basham, Nold and Kelleher on Saturday. 

YOUR kids will thank you.