Lakeway mayor fined by Texas Ethics Commission for fake online ID
Months after Lakeway Mayor Joe Bain misrepresented his identity online while supporting certain candidates for Lakeway City Council, the Texas Ethics Commission has found the mayor in violation of election code that requires transparency in political advertising and campaign communication.
The TEC imposed a $500 penalty on Bain, according to the decision posted to the TEC website on Tuesday.
In April, just before the local election of three candidates running for two seats on the Lakeway City Council, Bain posted in the online forum Nextdoor.com under the pseudonym “John Smart,” suggesting that residents support incumbent candidates Ron Massa and Bridge Bertram and questioning the volunteer experience of newcomer candidate Tiffany McMillan.
“Vote for Bridge Bertram and Ron Massa – they actually volunteered for the City and worked hard to make it better, unlike the other candidate that hasn’t attended a council meeting for a long time nor has every [sic] done any work to try to improve the city – no committees, commissions or any other volunteer work,” one message attributed to John Smart read.
Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/breaking-news/lakeway-mayor-fined-texas-ethics-commission-for-fake-online/r0jyI6PXlfKXwfig4jtIFO/
