Texas rejects ethics complaint against Sen. Wendy Davis

[white cloud]

By Anna M. Tinsley

[e-mail]

FORT WORTH -- The Texas Ethics Commission this week rejected a complaint filed against state Sen. Wendy Davis by her opponent in the hotly contested Senate District 10 race.

State Rep. Mark Shelton, R-Fort Worth, filed the ethics complaint this month against Davis, D-Fort Worth, for "not disclosing her business relationships with state lobbyists."

The commission sent Shelton and Davis certified letters this week saying the complaint doesn't meet "legal and technical form requirements."

"We are not surprised at all and recognized the complaint as a dishonest political stunt from the outset," said Anthony Spangler, a spokesman for the Davis campaign. "Mark Shelton must hide a failed record that includes votes to block lifesaving cancer screening to hundreds of thousands of women in Texas."

Shelton campaign spokesman Clayton Stewart said that changes are being made to the complaint and that it is being resubmitted.

"It's a technical correction we have to make, and we've been told if we fix it, they will accept the filing," he said. "This is just Wendy trying to spin it and divert attention from her corrupt background."

Part of the problem, according to the commission's letter, is that each sworn complaint must include a properly completed affidavit.

"If the complaint is based on information and belief, the complaint must state the source and basis of the information and belief," the letter says. "The affidavit you provided does not state the source and basis of the information and belief."

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/10/27/4367610/texas-rejects-ethics-complaint.html#storylink=cpy

>>>>>
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/10/27/4367610/texas-rejects-ethics-complaint.html

[white cloud]

1. Shelton should acknowledge his dishonest attack and apologize to Sen. Davis

Breaking News

October 26, 2012
[phone] - Fax [phone]
Contact: Matt Angle

TEC Rejects Mark Shelton’s Complaint Against Wendy Davis
Shelton should acknowledge his dishonest attack and apologize to Sen. Davis

In a letter written to Mark Shelton and delivered today to State Senator Wendy Davis, the Texas Ethics Commission stated that it will not open an investigation into a complaint filed by Shelton. In its letter, the TEC said:

"If the complaint is based on information and belief, the complaint must state the source and basis of the information and belief. The affidavit you provided does not state the source and basis of the information and belief."

Essentially, the TEC has determined that Mark Shelton has failed to provide a shred of evidence to support his claim against Senator Davis. The TEC ruling comes shortly after both WFAA Channel 8 and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram looked into Shelton’s complaints and judged them to be untrue.

The Shelton Campaign’s attack on Davis did not pass the smell test from the beginning. Shelton didn’t file his complaint until the closing weeks of the campaign, even though it is focused on legislation considered in 2011. Moreover, Shelton’s campaign consultants clumsily leaked their own TV ad scripts exposing the complaint as nothing more than a campaign prop to attack Senator Davis.

The TEC decision turns the tables on Mark Shelton. Rather than benefit from his bogus ethics attack on Wendy Davis, Shelton's own lack of integrity has been exposed. Shelton has pursued a personal attack on Wendy Davis knowing it to be false. He filed a false and frivolous complaint to the Texas Ethics Commission in a cynical attempt to gain political benefit and hide his own deficiencies as a candidate and failure as a public servant.

Mark Shelton should publicly acknowledge his dishonest actions and issue a formal apology to Senator Wendy Davis and to the voters in Senate District 10.



About Us | Donate | Sign up for Emails | Visit our Website | Facebook | Twitter

The Lone Star Project is an activity of the Lone Star Fund.
Contributions or gifts to the Lone Star Fund are not tax deductible. All contributions are subject to the prohibitions and limitations of the Federal Election Campaign Act. Federal Law requires us to use best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year.

[ashling]

2. I hope Wendy buries him and his sleazy ads

"We are not surprised at all and recognized the complaint as a dishonest political stunt from the outset," said Anthony Spangler, a spokesman for the Davis campaign. "Mark Shelton must hide a failed record that includes votes to block lifesaving cancer screening to hundreds of thousands of women in Texas."

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/10/27/4367610/texas-rejects-ethics-complaint.html#storylink=cpy

--------

I live just south of her district ... damnit!

[sonias]

3. I'm hoping Senator Davis get to return to the Texas Senate

We need her voice. We need more women and we need more sane humans representing us.

[white cloud]

4. From Luke Metzger

Senator Davis succeeded in securing funds to install more air quality monitors in the Fort Worth area (1) and helped pass a law to require gas companies to report which chemicals they use in drilling. According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, drilling activities in Dallas Fort Worth produces as much air pollution as all the cars and trucks in the region combined (2).

Senator Davis has fought for our parks and natural areas, filing legislation to end the Legislature’s use of sporting goods sales tax revenues – intended for our parks – for other purposes (3). She has worked to create the Fort Worth Prairie Park, a 2,000 acre urban tall-grass prairie wilderness in southwest Tarrant County, personally joining me and other parks advocates in meetings with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to push for the area’s protection.

Compare these accomplishments with the record of her opponent – state Representative Mark Shelton. Rep. Shelton has voted for the environment just 28% of the time he’s been in office, voting to weaken public protections from polluters, against anti-littering laws, and against stronger safeguards from dirty drilling (4).

The environmental choice for Senate District 10 is clear. Please vote to re-elect Senator Wendy Davis.

Sincerely,


Luke Metzger
Environment Texas Director


Political advertisement. Paid for by Environment Texas.

1) McGraw, Dan. “Wendy Davis stuck her neck out for schoolkids.” Fort Worth Weekly August 31, 2011

2) “A common-sense solution to help Dallas-Fort Worth air. ” Editorial. Dallas Morning News April 20, 2012

3) SB 1345 by Senator Wendy Davis “Relating to the crediting of appropriated funds from the collection of taxes imposed on the sale of sporting goods” 82nd Regular Session

4) Environment Texas Legislative Scorecard, 82nd Regular Session

[white cloud]

5. TEC Rejects Mark Shelton’s Complaint Against Wendy Davis

TEC Rejects Mark Shelton’s Complaint Against Wendy Davis
Shelton should acknowledge his dishonest attack and apologize to Sen. Davis

In a letter written to Mark Shelton and delivered today to State Senator Wendy Davis, the Texas Ethics Commission stated that it will not open an investigation into a complaint filed by Shelton. In its letter, the TEC said:


"If the complaint is based on information and belief, the complaint must state the source and basis of the information and belief. The affidavit you provided does not state the source and basis of the information and belief."

Essentially, the TEC has determined that Mark Shelton has failed to provide a shred of evidence to support his claim against Senator Davis. The TEC ruling comes shortly after both WFAA Channel 8 and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram looked into Shelton’s complaints and judged them to be untrue.

The Shelton Campaign’s attack on Davis did not pass the smell test from the beginning. Shelton didn’t file his complaint until the closing weeks of the campaign, even though it is focused on legislation considered in 2011. Moreover, Shelton’s campaign consultants clumsily leaked their own TV ad scripts exposing the complaint as nothing more than a campaign prop to attack Senator Davis.

The TEC decision turns the tables on Mark Shelton. Rather than benefit from his bogus ethics attack on Wendy Davis, Shelton's own lack of integrity has been exposed. Shelton has pursued a personal attack on Wendy Davis knowing it to be false. He filed a false and frivolous complaint to the Texas Ethics Commission in a cynical attempt to gain political benefit and hide his own deficiencies as a candidate and failure as a public servant.

Mark Shelton should publicly acknowledge his dishonest actions and issue a formal apology to Senator Wendy Davis and to the voters in Senate District 10.

Permalink
http://www.lonestarproject.net/Permalink/2012-10-26.html

[ceile]

6. Wish I could vote for her.

She and her staff have reached out over the past several months to the disability community, caregivers and non-profits. She's the real deal.