Vote em' out!

If anyone knows, it's Adrian Murray.  He ran for the Tarrant Regional Water District last time (the election before the one they voted to cancel).   They went after him the same way they are Timothy Nold.  They aren't very original as they are going after John Basham for the same thing this time, too.  Exerpt from Durango:

Meanwhile, John Basham, an actual contributor to American society, was injured while serving his country, with the consequence, as happens to way too many who serve, of John Basham running into financial woes, whilst recovering from his injuries.

Below is what Adrian has to say about the late taxes, (NOT unpaid).  Any reliable "news" source could have found that information.  Wonder why the ST didn't?

My disdain for the methods of the TRWD board is well known. I have read years worth of board meeting minutes where it is so obvious to anyone with a pulse that the board does not act as an impartial board overseeing the interests of the pu...blic, but is nothing more than a sham, an agent for the private companies they are shelling out money and favors to, a mouthpiece for an extravagantly well-compensated staff who stumbled upon a gold mine known as the Barnett Shale and concocted schemes to share this bounty among themselves and some friends. Whether the members of the board personally gain from this is doubtful and really immaterial. That they look the other way in their marathon sessions voting unanimously to approve everything the staff puts before them is enough to disqualify them from ever being in a position of public trust.

Now, for the first time ever, there is a serious threat to the syndicate which operates out of a sprawling and expanding Taj Mahal on Northside Drive. When I ran for this board in 2010 along with John Basham, we were woefully underfunded and could only scrape together enough money for two mailers. We never really had a chance, but we did open some eyes as to the dirty deeds taking place on the banks of the Trinity River.

But our meager possibilty of actually dethroning Marty Leonard and Jim Lane did not stop stop their campaign team from going all out slime on us. On the day before election day, a mailer hit voters' mail boxes in the district stating that I had recently moved to the area from California "leaving behind a string of tax liens." never mind that the statement was patently false. There simply was no chance at all to refute it as the final vote was the very next day.

They are very good at this, these sultans of slime. They did it last week with Andy (Timothy) Nold. On Monday of last week a letter appeared in mailboxes throughout the area, ostensibly written by Marty Leonard, stating that one of the challengers was a tax deadbeat being sued by the district. (Oddly, this charge came in a letter decrying the tactics of the challengers who were, if they did not stop, about to make our dear sweet board of directors cry.) This was followed a week later by the incumbents with a repeat of the tax deadbeat line.

Of course, none of it was true, as you can see from this pic. It was made up out of whole cloth by a cabal desperate to keep its secrets from being revealed. They'll do and say anything, defile anyone in any way they can, to keep the people out of their vault.

Vote 'em out.

You can take that to the BANK

When a long serving city councilman/community leader, fire fighting, plane flying, purple heart earning man says something, LISTEN.

Just had a brief conversation with Marty, the pot calling the kettle black, Leonard.

Ms. Leonard is a member of the board of the TRWD. Marty sent a letter to voters decrying the qualifications and character of challengers, Basham, Nold, and ...Kelleher and she complained of their "negative" campaigning.

I reminded Marty the she was no more qualified than B, N, & K when she first ran. Her claim to worthiness was that she read and saved a lot of articles on water. Whoopee!

She didn't get upset over the threat of eminent domain against a couple of her wealthy neighbors, to use their land for Trinity Uptown though she criticizes a BNK backer for wanting to keep a TRWD pipeline off his property. It seems to irritate Marty and the rest of the board that the challengers are complying with TRWD and state ethics commission requirements for candidacy. Frankly, I'm tired of their whining and complaining because they can't have a free ride to re-election.

Go vote Saturday for Basham, Nold, and Kelleher. Share this with your voting friends.

Voters Beware! Outside interest in the TRWD water board election!

"Voters beware" is what a campaign mailer from the water board incumbents read.  Mayor Price was concerned that outside interests were trying to take over your water supply! 

First of all, WHAT water supply?

Second of all, has Mayor Price seen the incumbents campaign donations?   The incumbents are getting money from Dallas (GASP!) and Austin and cities all over Texas.  Are these the outside interests you were warned about?  Or is it the donors to the incumbents from out of state you should be concerned with?  We hear there are donations from Colorado, Arizona and that state next door we are suing in Federal court to take their water, Oklahoma. 

If they haven't noticed, there is no money in Fort Worth.  That well ran dry.  THEY spent it all.  Maybe some of those campaigns donating should hang on to their money.  They may need it.

Vote BNK.  Today.

The Water Board Stinks...

That's what one "associate" of the TRWD says about them, he also says "Just hold your nose and do it".

WHAT?

Is that an endorsement??  Smells almost as bad as the Trinity River in summer.  (The same one the water board encourages you to "jump on in".  Right after you sign their waiver that says even if they neglected to tell you it could kill you, they aren't responsible...we knew that...)

Don't believe their lies about the candidates, but do believe what they say about the current board.  With "friends" like these...

By the way, have you noticed you don't hear from these "friends" unless they need money or are spending it?  If they are begging you to vote for incumbents that they know have "gone astray", WHAT is in it for them?  ASK.  Same goes for YOUR employers.

Here's YOUR chance to protect YOUR water and money. 

VOTE for Basham, Nold, and Kelleher.  NOW. 

Below is the surprising "endorsement" from a TRWD associate...

Friends-

I know that many of you may think like I think. This TRWD group have gone astray and are doing things they should not do and spending money on things they should not. But in this case, the alternative is much worse.


I ask you to go out and vote early and vote often! Pass on to your husbands and wives, and also send to friends.

Just hold your nose and do it.

The alternative is not good for the future growth of Fort Worth.

Says WHO?

Note - we wanted to see what it felt like, so we took the liberty of editing as we saw fit.  We didn't change any sentences, we just removed some.  Don't worry, we are not going to turn into the Startlegram.  We just wanted to see how it was done.

Truth, Justice and the Fort Worth Way

We've been playing catch up with all the election emails we've received. Seems folks are very interested in the Tarrant Regional Water Board election.

And it looks like we're not the only ones playing catch up. In the past two days the TRWD incumbents and their crew have started sending out mailers.  We hear even some in the halls of Austin are being approached about this quiet little election.  Water Board Member, Marty Leonard's NEGATIVE email and letter was first.  Then they sent one for mail in ballots to seniors. (BNK already did that). Some Seniors reported their precinct and voter ID number were in the wrong spots. They wondered if it was a ploy by TRWD or just more sloppy work. Then the "Clean Water Committee" (is that an oxymoron?) PAC sent one showing Mayor Price on one side and the ballot on the other (BNK - been there, done that too). That mailer also mentioned the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. (More on that connection to come...)  Jim Lane left a couple of interesting voicemails around town and of course, a ST employee is shilling for him.  (Shouldn't Jim be concerned with his own race?  The one the downtown crowd doesn't want him to win?)

Kay Granger also sent out an email to her "friends" accusing many people of many things. She made it clear she wants things to stay the same. Since her son is employed by the water district, one would guess so.  One would also guess this was made clear to everyone (and their employees) from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram all the way to the Bank of Texas. 

Mayor Price and Congresswoman Granger both held fundraisers in the past couple of weeks, one for the incumbents and one where they handed out information for the incumbents.

Riddle us this Batman, WHY would local and federal elected officials be so engrossed in the TRWD campaign? Have they met all the candidates? (Aside from Mary Kelleher addressing City Council)? Have they heard all of the candidates speak? There has been no debate (unless you count the conversation between a water district employee and a candidate at a local restaurant). BNK shows up to talk to the voters, the incumbents do not. One incumbent did show up to a recent meeting, after the crowd was finished, we're guessing he wished he hadn't.

WHO do YOU want in office? Someone that will get out among the voters or those WHO YOUR elected officials want to keep in their place? Literally. 

VOTE BNK!  John Basham, Timothy Nold and Mary Kelleher for the Tarrant Regional Water District!

Once a Watchdog,

Always a Watchdog.

Dave Lieber, the 20 year Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter, who was laid off, is still watching out for you.  On his Facebook this week he posted the following:

Pet peeve: When officials running for reelection use public money to send out a glossy 12-page "annual report" that arrives one week before the election. That's what the Tarrant Regional Water District did. Campaigning disguised as public business. And these are the same dudes that postponed their own election for a year. Unchallenged power on an issue of major importance. WRONG.

To be honest, maybe it's a good thing Dave doesn't work for the paper anymore. 

The Fort Worth Weekly had the best article on Dave's departure.  We noticed we got a shout out over there from a reader.  Thanks, LA!

Thank heavens for the F W Weekly and the Star Telegraph website – you both are the best source of real news happening in this area.

And another one had a great point about the paper and politics -

The Weekly continues to surge past the Startlegram as the voice of the people. Time for the Star Telegram to recognize that its political intrigues on behalf of the Fort Worth power structure has caused it to go the way of the dinosaur.

Fort Worth, Dallas on Line 1

Finally.

The Dallas Morning News writes about the Tarrant Regional Water District. 

Read what the Water District spokesperson had to say.  YOU can't afford not to.

Kudos to Dallas for having a real "news" paper.  Y'all come back real soon!!

And for the rest of you, there's an election coming up.  Pay attention!

Bennett’s lawsuit alleges that the real debate and discussion of water district business — decisions on the pipeline route and awarding of multi-million-dollar design, engineering and construction contracts — takes place not in the public meetings of the board of directors but in secret committee meetings.

Notices about the time, place and agenda of those committee meetings are neither posted publicly ahead of time nor do they appear on the water district’s web site, according to Chad Lorance, a spokesman for the water district.

A little background is in order here for readers unfamiliar with local governments in Texas.

The Texas Attorney General has ruled repeatedly that a governmental body such as a tax-supported water district cannot create committees to deal with a public issue and then allow the committees to meet in secret and make decisions in secret.

I asked Lorance for a legal rationale for why the water district’s committees should not be subject to the state open meetings law. He did not answer directly.

Instead, he cited another statute found in the Texas Water Code. It says, “A meeting of a committee of the board, or a committee composed of representatives of more than one board, where less than a quorum of any one board is present, is not subject to the provisions of the open meetings law.”

One could infer from Lorance’s citation that the water board committees purposely structure their meetings to include less than a quorum to avoid violating the open meetings law. But he did not say that.

“All 339 actions were unanimously adopted by the board,” the lawsuit concluded.

Down in flames

That's how one water board incumbent seemed to go last night at group meeting last night.

There was some confusion on his part to whether or not the Tarrant Regional Water District owned a hunting lease or not.  Apparently that depends on if you call it a deer lease or call it something else.

If you were confused by it, you can read an old article from the FW Weekly on it.  They were reporting on the Water District back in the day (2006).  Too bad no one was listening.  You hear them now?  Did you hear Julie Wilson, (yes, that one) say, “We’re not going to condemn any land for economic development,”  We know several people downtown WHO know that ain't true.

Seems lots of folks at the meeting were upset with Jack Stevens as some of them helped him get elected, now they can't get him to do what he promised, which was look after them and their property. 

The three candidates, John Basham, Timothy Nold and Mark Kelleher fared much better.  Do yourself a favor and vote BNK for the water board.  Otherwise, it's business as usual. And from the looks of it, the locals have had about enough of that.  Hunting season's over.

The water board, as most people call it, has been a low-profile agency for most of the 80 years it’s been around, taking care of four dams and the lakes behind them, selling water to local cities and towns, looking out for flood concerns, and choosing its leaders in elections that often generate anemic turnout. But from time to time, especially when one of the agency’s construction projects requires the taking of private property from those who don’t want to sell, people start getting more curious — and critical — about how the district operates.

“It’s there for the recreational use of our employees,’’ says Board President Victor Henderson. “I think it’s a good thing.”

When an existing board member grew weary of service, he (and until recently all were men) would typically quit before the term was over, allowing the remaining directors to appoint a replacement who could then run for election as an incumbent. Water board elections were often held on days when public interest and turnout was light. In the late 1970s, for example, one election drew fewer than 300 voters.

But district officials say those days are long gone. In recent years, at least three board members have been elected without first having been appointed. And at least one incumbent has been defeated in a recent election. That was in 2004, when businesswoman Gina Puente-Brancato, the only woman and Hispanic to serve on the board, was defeated by retired engineer Jack Stevens.

What’s more, even if they did know when elections were being held, only a fraction of the residents served — or affected — by the agency are eligible to vote for the people who oversee it.

WHAT water?

The Trinity River Vision (Distraction) has the Tarrant Regional Water District all tied up in Fort Worth.  Watch a couple of minutes of video from the Trinity River Talk that TRIP held this week. John Basham explains that Region C (that's us) is out of water.  What happens to a city that runs out of water?  What happens if that city is already in debt? What happens to the rest of the county?  WHO's next?

If there ain't no water, there ain't no jobs.

WHO's watching?

Everybody.

Great Letters to the Editor in today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram. What's the oligarchy going to do when all THE PEOPLE are paying attention? Get ready.

Hiding the truth

I received a mailing from the Clean Water Committee regarding the Tarrant Regional Water District election. The mailing was unsigned, although a return address showed a suite on Fort Worth's Main Street.

The timing of this mailing was interesting in that the criticism of two candidates did not allow time to check the facts presented. To their credit, parties responsible for the mailing did offer sources for the information -- Orange County, Calif., Texas Comptroller's Office and court records -- but a lack of time (received the day before the May 8 election) prevented confirmation of the information presented.

I do not know either of the candidates mentioned. I do know mudslinging and dirty politics when I see it, however, and this smacked of both.

Quoting from the mailing, "Shame on candidates for hiding the truth!" I say shame on others for hiding their identity with this anonymous mailing.

-- John Farlow, Fort Worth

Unfair pet licensing fees

In recent months, the Fort Worth City Council has passed one or two trivial ordinances all in the name of finding any way to make money, even when it's unfair, unjust and unnecessary. Because City Hall can't manage or balance its budget, it has placed unnecessary burdens on pet owners by increasing licensing fees.

The city's Animal Care and Control Division insists that pet owners have microchips in their dogs and cats or risk being punished with higher fees. It doesn't seem to matter that a pet is spayed or neutered or that a pet has its shots or that a pet has a good and loving home.

Excuse me, but the pets are not the city's unless it claims eminent domain on animals, too. I'm all for pets, but couldn't care less about City Hall's shoddy money-making tactics.

-- Sandra Richards, Fort Worth

Forget the incentives

Don't use $10.7 million to keep RadioShack in Fort Worth. Instead, open the libraries and swimming pools, and fix the streets. This will benefit all of us who live in Fort Worth. This is what we need.

-- Ann Chambers, Fort Worth

Picking on the Papers - Part 2

Today is Durango's turn.  Don't miss it!

What you can learn in a day...

On the eve of election day in Tarrant County, you can learn a lot. You can learn WHO to vote for in some Tarrant County elections. 
For example, we learned of an 18 year old running for City Council in Arlington. Read about Lila here. Why is she running?

"People will go down there and they'll speak in front of the City Council, talk about their concerns, about their issues, about how they disagree, and the City Council members don't listen to them," she said.

Sound familiar?

And we learned in the Flower Mound City Council race, people are paying attention.  Lots of people.  This includes the industry that is trying to divide this and other communities during election season.

We learned items acquired during the Dallas City Hall Corruption case are being sold on Ebay.

And that campaign volunteers from Adrian Murray and John Basham's campaigns have possibly been being intimidated by a certain city organization.  We won't name names, yet.

Seems the race for the Tarrant Regional Water District took on a new level today with articles and notes over the past few days such as,  this one from Bud Kennedy where Debra Medina supports Adrian Murray.  And then there is the article in the incumbent supporting Fort Worth Star-Telegram concerning the award the Tarrant Regional Water District received. How ironic, this comes out a day prior to the election. How ironic it is celebrating a program that was launched in 2007. Wasn't this the exact year of the last flood?

Speaking of the incumbents..."someone" sent the expected smear mailer today concerning Adrian Murray and John Basham, you can see it and the truth at http://www.tarrantvotes.com/.  After viewing these documents, our question is this, are these men are being "smeared" concerning things that were caused in some way or another by none other than their own govenment?  Can that be right?  Our next question is, does it matter if they received money from a PAC in Austin?  That just goes to show us that they can get along with our neighbors, can you say the same of the current board? Oklahoma might disagree.

Speaking of all getting along, it was reported that earlier this week at a meeting that the Libertarian Party Chair, John Spivey, the Democratic Party Chair, Steve Maxwell, and the Republican Party Chair, Stephanie Klick all gathered together. Someone told us there are pictures.  We'd love to have one.  Too bad we didn't see any on the news.  We hear Adrian Murray was the speaker.  Sounds like another show of working together.

In the Mesquite City Council race, the politics have gotten so dirty that the "someone" printed "a fake newspaper" smearing a candidate.  Can you imagine, "a fake newspaper"?  What's next?  The opponent is "afraid for his family's safety". And claims it is an eye opener to small town politics.

Shame, isn't it?

From what all we've learned today, sounds like YOUR vote could make a difference in a lot of races.  If you don't vote, can't complain about what you get.  YOUR community needs YOU! 

So VOTE!  From 7:00 am - 7:00 pm.  SATURDAY MAY 8th - TODAY!  MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

WHERE do you vote?  Check out Tarrant County Elections site here.

And keep those emails coming! 

Thanks and night all,
Texas Lone Star

TRWD Election: KERA's Shelley Kofler - Challengers Question Public Spending

Tarrant County Voters,

With less than 24 hours left until polls open in this heated Tarrant Regional Water District race. It seems our local "paper of record" continues to shill for the incumbents and business as usual at the Water Board. However, in a strange twist of fate perhaps there is still a sense of journalistic integrity left in this world. That integrity resides squarely with Shelley Kofler at KERA.

Ms. Kofler filed a story this morning taking the time not only to weigh the issues but to interview BOTH SIDES in this race. While I fervently disagree with most every comment spouted from our opponents talking points. I applaud Ms. Kofler's "due diligence" in finding out what each side has to say on the divisive issues.

I encourage you to LISTEN to the story as it ran on KERA radio this morning. This will allow you to hear from both Adrian and I as well as our opponents, ALL IN OUR OWN WORDS. Oh yes and not to be forgotten, Ms. Kofler even took the time to interview a concerned taxpaying voter in the district. Imagine that a reporter actually getting ALL SIDES of a story instead of shilling for the political elite.

LISTEN TO THE STORY NOW AT KERA.org

Adrian Murray/John Basham Tarrant Regional Water District Mailer

Click the Mailer to view full-size

To see 2013 water district election info, go here. 

Mentioning Letters to the Editor...

Got someone else's attention. Again, we are more than happy to oblige.

A fool and his money are soon parted, as the saying goes. Tarrant Regional Water District is using your money from increased water rates and gas revenues to promote economic development.

The Water Board's vision for future water supplies is to sue Oklahoma.
Don't want to continue the fool? Vote Murray/Basham for water board.

We couldn't agree more. Don't be a fool.

VOTE SATURDAY to end the insanity!

As a recent commenter pointed out - Insanity in this case means electing the same people and expecting a different result!

Mentioning Haltom City

Got someone's attention. We're more than happy to oblige.

Dear Lone Star,

I wanted to write a letter of support for John Basham and Adrian Murray for the Tarrant Regional Water District, yes, I know I don't get a vote - that's part of the point.  However, I missed the "deadline" for election letters to the local newspaper.  The "other" local newspaper acted like this election isn't happening.  Instead of taking the opportunity to educate the citizens on an issue that is going to have major impacts on their future, the media keeps quiet, limits the information or publishes propaganda pieces.  So here's the letter I couldn't get printed, I am hoping I haven't missed your deadline, since the election hasn't happened yet.
Thanks for all you do!

The Star Telegram has said Fort Worth alone has a billion dollars worth of flooding problems.  They have also said that the Trinity River Vision needs fiscal responsibility (another billion).  Then they endorse the same ol' incumbents.  They praised John Basham and Adrian Murray, running for the Tarrant Regional Water District. But then told you to vote for the incumbents. Why would citizens who are tired of the good ol' boy network, tired of having their tax dollars committed, without a say, tired of seeing their tax money wasted, vote for the same folks who have thrown away millions of our dollars? All behind closed doors. Those of us affected by flooding who don’t get to vote in the Water District race, ask that you vote for Basham and Murray.  Two individuals who want to return the District to do what it was created to do – provide for and protect citizens in “all or part of eleven counties”.  It’s your money, it’s your water, and it’s your future.  Save it. 

Folks in Haltom City (where they flood but can't vote) would appreciate your support!

VOTE SATURDAY!

Busy man

Mr. Woodard's pen has been busy this week!

Letter to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram today.

TODAY is last day of early voting - VOTE!!!

No City Council since Chuck Silcox and Clyde Picht, no Commissioners Court and no Chamber of Commerce has sounded the war tocsin against the near-billion-dollar Trinity Uptown boondoggle. They're all asleep in Fort Worth. Even now comes another surprise, a new version of an expensive bridge to nowhere.

Taxpayers, why stand ye here idle when your money is being thrown down the river? Elect Adrian Murray and John Basham to the Tarrant Regional Water District board. Just as St. George of old slew the dragon, Murray and Basham are pledged to slay this Trinity Uptown tax-eating monster, the mother of all eminent domain earmarks. Victory is in view! Oh the joy!

-- Don Woodard Sr., Fort Worth

TODAY!!!

VOTE!!!!  Early voting continues!  Be heard!

Vote for Adrian Murray and John Basham for the Tarrant Regional Water District!  Help save our water and money!

Behind closed doors...

Want to know what goes on behind closed doors with YOUR money at the Tarrant Regional Water District? Then take five minutes out of your day and VOTE for Adrian Murray and John Basham!

Millions of dollars and our water supply depend on it.

VOTE TODAY!!!!

It's time to Vote for the Tarrant Water Board

A couple good letters to the editor in this morning's Fort Worth Star-Telegram in support of a couple good candidates to become members of the Tarrant Regional Water District....

Tarrant water board

Does rich get in the way of lowering property taxes when the water board says it has more money than it needs? Are water district property taxes so high because of the rich history of public service enjoyed by respected water board folks mentioned in the Thursday editorial?

Are unused gas bonuses diverted to entertainment and dining? Or should that money be used to investigate desalination of the Red River if the water district loses its drinking water lawsuit?

Adrian Murray and John Basham are not afraid to ask questions. They read schedules and understand them. Tell them to plan for drinking water and flood control instead of raising fees for water delivered to your town. Voters in Fort Worth, Azle, Edgecliff Village, Westworth Village, Westover Hills and River Oaks, elect Murray and Basham to the Tarrant Regional Water Board. Find out about unexplained uses of too much tax money.

-- Beverly Branham, Fort Worth

My question is, why does the Star-Telegram Editorial Board continue to support only current Tarrant Regional Water District board members?

The Washington earmarks will not materialize, nor should they. Why should all Americans be asked to pay for commercial development in Fort Worth?

Tarrant County property owners should fear the current board's eminent domain proposal for a commercial development.

It is time for the Star-Telegram to dispense with the good ol' boy system. Support the voters for a change.

-- Jihada Gilcrease, Fort Worth