Campaign website: unknown
Resume could not be requested.
Challenger: Josh Barber
Campaign website: unknown
Resume could not be requested.
Subject:
Public Information Request: 2015 Candidate filing forms
From:
info@refpac.org
Date:
Wed, Oct 07, 2015 8:53 am
To:
records@tccd.edu
Open Records Request November 2015
E.A. Jensen
to Public Records
Oct 6, 2015
To:
Tarrant County College
Office of Public Records
Dear Public Records:
This request is made under the Texas Public Information
Act, Chapter 552, Texas Government Code, which guarantees the public's
access to information in the custody of governmental agencies.
I respectfully request copies of the following information:
*All candidate filings and reports required by the Texas Ethics Commission and Secretary of State for the November 2015 Tarrant County College Board of Trustees election
If you have any questions about the nature or scope of this request,
please call me at the phone number listed below. If you determine that
all or some portion of the information requested is exempted from
required disclosure, I request that you provide me with the portions
of the requested information that are public and can be reasonably
disaggregated from that which you believe is exempted.
If any records are in active use or in storage, please certify this
fact in writing and set a date and hour within a reasonable time when
the records will be available.
I am prepared to pay reasonable costs for copying, within the
guidelines set forth by applicable Open
Records Act code and statues. Electronic copies are preferred.
I appreciate your attention to this, and expect to hear a response
Advisory Board Member -Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital
Board Member-Alden Bridge Village Association
Board Member- Montgomery County Junior Achievement
Advisory Board Member- Lone Star College Chancellor's Hispanic Initiative
Advisory Board Member-Lone Star College Small Business Development Center
Finance Committee Member Montgomery County Women's Center
Past Chair Montgomery County March of Dimes 2011
ORGANIZATIONS AMOS SUPPORTS:
The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce
The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau
HEARTS Veterans Museum
The Woodlands Christian Academy
March of Dimes
The Will Herndon Fund
The Junior League of the Woodlands
Texas State University
The Woodland United Methodist Church
Challenger: Tom Sadlowski
Campaign website: unknown
Resume could not be requested.
Aldine ISD, Position 2
Incumbent: Paul A Shanklin
Campaign website: unknown
Resume could not be requested; all contact information redacted (see email chain below).
Challenger: C "Jinx" Kerr
Campaign website: unknown
Contact telephone numbers
Office: 281-233-1613 or 281-773-7887
Home: 281-590-3570(?)
Too late to request resume (see email chain below).
Subject:
RE: Public Information Requested
From:
info@refpac.org
Date:
Tue, Oct 20, 2015 3:14 pm
To:
"Patricia Guidry" <pguidry@aldineisd.org>
With the redacted email addresses, this is useless to me. I cannot contact these people to request their resumes. I submitted my initial request at the end of Sept, and had to file an ORR at the beginning of October. What do you expect of the average voter to do in order to make an informed decision in this race? -Elizabeth-
------- Original Message --------
Subject: Public Information Requested
From: Patricia Guidry <pguidry@aldineisd.org>
Date: Tue, October 20, 2015 2:18 pm
To: info@refpac.orgDr. Jensen:
Good afternoon.
Attached please find two files. The first file contains the Applications for a Place on the Ballot with the candidates' dates of birth redacted. The second file contains the Texas Ethics Commission forms on file.
Note that a portion of the information which you requested contains the home addresses and home telephone numbers of public officials. As allowed by section 552.024 of the Texas Government Code, most of the district’s employees and officials have chosen to make this personal information confidential. Our office is prohibited by law from releasing this personal information to you, and therefore we have removed this information from the files that are being provided to you. Normally, we must request a ruling from the Texas Attorney General before we can withhold any of the information you requested. However, section 552.024 allows us to withhold this specific information without requesting a ruling from the attorney general.
Additionally, the district withheld the personal email addresses of the candidates. A prior request for this information had recently been submitted to the district by another requestor. The district sought and received a ruling from the Office of the Attorney General (OR2015-20243; dated September 28, 2015), which states that "Open Records Decision No. 684 (2009) is a previous determination to all governmental bodies authorizing them to withhold certain information, including personal e-mail addresses under section 552.137 of the Government Code, without the necessity of requesting an attorney general decision."
You have the right to appeal our decision to withhold this information from you. Questions regarding the withheld information can be directed to:
Office of the Attorney General
Open Records Division
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, Texas 78711-2548
The rest of your request for information has been processed in accordance with the terms of the Public Information Act.
Thank you.
Best Regards,
Patricia Guidry, ARM
Director of Risk Management
Phone: 281-985-6212
Fax: 281-985-7330
pguidry@aldineisd.org (New email address)
--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <info@refpac.org>
Date: Tue, Oct 20, 2015 at 3:07 PM
Subject: RE: Clarification Requested - Dates of Birth
To: Patricia Guidry <pguidry@aldineisd.org>
Dear Patricia,
I agree. The previous email appeared to simply summarize our conversation. I apologize for the confusion.
Thank you,
Elizabeth
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Patricia Guidry <pguidry@aldineisd.org>
Date: Tue, Oct 20, 2015 at 2:10 PM
Subject: Clarification Requested - Dates of Birth
To: info@refpac.org
Dr. Jensen:
Good afternoon.
I have compiled the information which you requested. I left a telephone message asking if youwould agree to the redaction of the candidates' dates of birth from the Application for a Place on the Ballot (without the district requesting an opinion from the office of the attorney general).
Your prompt response is appreciated.
Thank you.
Best Regards,
Patricia Guidry, ARM
Director of Risk Management
Phone: 281-985-6212
Fax: 281-985-7330
pguidry@aldineisd.org (New email address)
Subject:
RE: Clarification Requested - Public Information Request: 2015 Candidate filing forms
From:
info@refpac.org
Date:
Fri, Oct 09, 2015 5:29 pm
To:
"Patricia Guidry" <pguidry@aldineisd.org>
The version of these forms that your organization uses for placing candidates on the ballot (AW2-20?)
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Clarification Requested - Public Information Request: 2015
Candidate filing forms
From: Patricia Guidry <pguidry@aldineisd.org>
Date: Fri, October 09, 2015 4:49 pm
To: info@refpac.org
Dr. Jensen:
Good evening.
Please provide clarification for "candidate filings". Are you requesting the candidate applications, reports filed that are required by The Texas Ethics Commission or another type of record.
These:
The version of these forms that your organization uses for placing candidates on the ballot (AW2-20?)
http://sos.state.tx.us/ELECTIONS/forms/index.shtml
and these:
https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/filinginfo/localcohfrm.htm
Thank you!
-Elizabeth
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Ballot Inquiry
From: board.services <board.services@hccs.edu>
Date: Wed, October 07, 2015 5:50 am
To: "info@refpac.org" <info@refpac.org>
Good morning,
Please list the specific documents you are requesting copies of.
Thank you.
From:info@refpac.org [mailto:info@refpac.org]
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2015 6:01 AM
To: board.services
Subject: RE: Ballot Inquiry
The TEC candidate filing documents. I'd like copies of those please. -Elizabeth
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Ballot Inquiry
From: board.services <board.services@hccs.edu>
Date: Tue, October 06, 2015 2:39 pm
To: "info@refpac.org" <info@refpac.org>
Please find below a link to the Houston Community College webpage:
http://www.hccs.edu/district/about-us/boardoftrustee/board-information/trustee-elections/
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
From:info@refpac.org [mailto:info@refpac.org]
Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 2:20 PM
To: board.services
Subject: Ballot Inquiry
Dear Madams and Sirs,
We requested ballot information with regard to the upcoming Houston Community College election and received no reply. We request copies of the candidate filings for the Board of Trustees.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Ballot Inquiry
From: "Referee PAC" <info@refpac.org>
Date: Wed, September 23, 2015 11:46 am
To: <info@refpac.org>
Dear Madams and Sirs,
Will your organization have any items on the ballot this November? We at Referee PAC serve the community by posting information for voters, specifically candidate resumes and bond evaluations.
Referee PAC is a non-ideological, non-partisan organization focused on campaign ethics. An example of the service that we provide to voters can be found here: Harris County Precinct 0423. Thank you very much for your time. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Jensen, PhD, PE
Referee PAC, Treasurer
(832) 279-3619
Background:
-veteran US Army combat engineer officer
-currently serves the US Coast Guard as District Captain, Auxiliary forces with a 1000 person command, directly supporting local area boating safety, search and rescue and regional disaster response
-charter board member of the Port of Houston Harbor Safety Committee
-co-founder of the Maritime Youth Expo program, connecting our schools to maritime career opportunities
-with his wife Xia, they own and operate AixiZ LLC and XK Sports, successful small manufacturing businesses in the electronics and sporting goods industry holding a number of technology patents
-daughter Zi is 2007 Graduate of Dobie High School, currently serving as an active duty US Naval officer on the USS McCampbell, DDG-85
-active in the Clear Lake, Pasadena, South Houston and South Belt-Ellington Chambers of Commerce
-2014 Chuck was recognized by former Governor Rick Perry with a commission as an Admiral of the Texas Navy for his work in maritime education
Education:
-PhD in Information Systems Technology, dissertation published in the RCI Journal of Supercomputing on meta-knowledge for creation of expert systems on the factory floor (based on the GM Oshawa, Canada facility)
-Undergrad at Canisius College, Buffalo, NY BS Comp Sci and Physics (1982)
Priorities:
-to modernize the skill set and change the operating culture of the board of trustees
-unite our students, employees, community and industries as a team with an engaged Board
-address the community's concerns about the lack of collaboration before policies are set
-utilize my field experience, leadership and area industrial relationships I have earned through the years and bring them to bear for a common cause
Endorsements:
-Harris County AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers and State Representative Gilbert Pena
Education: processing
Work/Volunteer Experience: processing
Priorities:
David Robinson was elected to his first term on Houston’s City Council in 2013. He is a passionate advocate for safe and livable neighborhoods and has proved to be a valuable voice for responsible government. David’s professional and civic background has given him the opportunity to be a leader on City Council. He has been appointed vice-chair of the Quality of Life Committee and sits as Council’s representative on the Houston First Board. As a Council Member, committee vice-chair, and Houston First Board Member, David provides respected leadership in enhancing the quality of life of Houstonians and advancing the economic prosperity and growth of Houston.
Early in his architectural career, David Robinson assisted with the design of the new U.S. Embassy in Amman Jordan and then contributed to the development and production of the master planning document for the facility and campus of the Texas Children’s Hospital. In 1999, he started his own company as a sole practitioner with an emphasis on building large commercial and institutional buildings. As a small business owner, David has kept his practice going through good times and lean. Currently, he is fortunate to have a healthy list of projects mostly located in the Houston area. He teaches a graduate level seminar here in Houston for Texas Tech University focused on planning and development called “Infrastructure in the Urban Environment.”
Before being elected to City Council, David Robinson served several terms as president of the Neartown (Montrose) Association. With the nomination of civic club representatives from across Houston, he was elected to serve as president of the citywide Super Neighborhood Alliance from 2011 to 2013. While serving on the board of directors of the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, David was appointed to the City of Houston Planning Commission by Mayor Bill White in 2007 and re-appointed by Mayor Annise Parker in 2009 – becoming the first licensed architect to serve the city as a commissioner since the 1970's.
David Robinson received a BA in Architecture from Yale College and earned a Master of Architecture degree from Rice University in 1993. David is the proud father of Elissa, a 15 year old high school student. They are active members of Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church and love living here in the great city of Houston, TX.
Education: processing
Work/Volunteer Experience: processing
Priorities:
Jack Christie is a native Texan, businessman, chiropractic physician and community leader. Jack’s broad range of experience has taken him through Houston’s numerous and richly diverse neighborhoods, and he is proud to serve the entire city as At-Large Position 5 Council Member.
Christie received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Texas Chiropractic College and served in the Army Reserves Medical Corps for six years. He received a certificate in International Relations upon completion of graduate courses at the Bush School of Government at Texas A&M. He now runs two successful Houston-area practices that care for over 20,000 patients. As a dedicated small business owner for over thirty years, Christie lends his expertise to the local business community through his position on the Board of Directors for the Spring Branch-Memorial Chamber of Commerce.
Jack’s previous elected positions prior to arriving at Houston City Council include his three terms as a State Board of Education board member and three terms on the Board of Trustees of Spring Branch Independent School District. Christie was elected President of Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees and was appointed Chairman of Texas State Board of Education from 1995-2000.
Christie’s background in science and education has made him a sought-after education and technology expert. He has appeared on NBC’s Today, ABC’s World News, CNN and CNN Money networks and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times and Time, Fortune and Wired magazines. After being selected from a pool of nominees by the state’s premier names in science, Dr. Jack Christie was inducted into the Texas Science Hall of Fame in 2000.
While an accomplished businessman and a recognized name in his many fields, Jack Christie is most clearly defined by his unrelenting drive to serve his community. Thirty years ago Jack founded the Annual 5th Ward Ice Skating Party and has acted as its organizer and underwriter every year since. He served on the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Houston Board of Directors for five years; he volunteered as a Big Brother himself for eight years and has had the unparalleled privilege of watching his “littles” grow into successful and self-assured adults in their own rights.
Jack is the proud father of John, Katherine and Patrick. He is an active member of St. Cecilia’s Church and an Eagle Scout. Jack has been an avid runner for more than forty years, competing and finishing marathons and the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii.
Resume:Priorities:
Former Houston City Councilmember and Mayor Pro-Tem Jew Don Boney, Jr. November 16, 1951 is a native of Temple Texas. His parents, Dr. J Don Boney, Sr. of Calvert TX and Clara Bernice Payne of Houston, were both educators with deep ties to Texas’ public education system. His father served as superintendent for Houston Independent School District and President of Houston Community College prior to becoming Chancellor of University of Houston-Downtown; his mother taught in Texas public schools for 42 years, retiring from Austin Independent School District in 1993. From both parents, young Jew Don gained a strong commitment to public service. “Many, if not most, of my family members were either educators, ministers or church leaders in some capacity. As far back as I can remember they were always helping somebody.”
Boney’s involvement in Texas politics began with the 62nd Legislative Session, when he worked as an Aide to State Representative Curtis Graves. It was during this time, in 1972, that he began producing a public affairs radio program called “In Black America” for KUT-FM in Austin. The syndicated show reached 120 affiliates across 27 states and would signal the start of an esteemed career in radio and television journalism. In 1973, he accepted a position as a Legislative Aide to former U.S. Congressman Craig A. Washington, then a freshman Texas Legislator. “One of the key things I learned from Craig is that the work of a legislator is not necessarily in front of the cameras on the legislative floor, it’s in the office, in the background where the real work gets done,” says Boney.
During the 1980s, Boney received national notoriety for his activism, which involved protesting alongside the late Houston Congressman Mickey Leland and fellow activists Omowali Luthuli, Ada Edwards and Deloyd Parker in opposition to the apartheid regime of South Africa. He also founded and chaired the Coalition to Free Clarence Brandley, a multiracial and ecumenical alliance of Houstonians that successfully galvanized the international public behind the release of Brandley, an African American falsely accused of murder. Having served a decade on Texas’ death row, Brandley was finally exonerated in 1990. “I believe having the opportunity to serve in a capacity that actually helped save a human being’s life is the most significant contribution anyone can make,” says Boney. Boney’s activism was depicted in the Showtime movie, “Whitewash: The Clarence Brandley Story,” which starred Eammon Walker as Boney.”
In 1995, Boney was elected to Houston City Council District D and served three consecutive terms until 2001. As a City Councilman, he was widely recognized for his leadership on fiscal issues and strong constituency services. Boney served on every committee that held oversight of major fiscal operations for the City of Houston and chaired several, including Regional Planning, which oversaw the financing of Houston’s Downtown Convention Center Hotel as well as Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (MWDBE), Housing and Community Development, the Sub-Committee of International Trade in Africa and the Caribbean and the Ad Hoc Committee on Election Procedures and Voting Systems.
Following his career as a City Councilmember, Boney was appointed Associate Director of the Mickey Leland Center on World Hunger and Peace at Texas Southern University. There he administered the Center’s widely acclaimed leadership development programs, including the Texas Legislative Internship (Sponsored by Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis) and the Mickey Leland Congressional Internship. Texas State Representatives Ana Hernandez, Armando Walle and Ron Reynolds gained their initial experience and training in the State Legislature as program participants. Boney also authored the guidelines for the Mickey Leland International Enhancement Program, which selected and provided funding for over 200 TSU students to Study Abroad in locations as diverse as the Hague, Switzerland, Brazil, England, Thailand, South Africa, Tanzania and Zanzibar. Under Boney’s leadership, the Mickey Leland Archives were digitally preserved and made available to the public.
Jew Don Boney, Jr. earned his B.A. and M.A. in Communications from Texas Southern University and an Executive Masters of Public Administration from Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs. He is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum. Jew Don is the father of three adult children: Jew Don (III), Ebony Nicole (Nikki) and Jewetta Bernice (Precious). He is married to Dorca Medina, a first generation Dominican American and native of New York City. In their spare time, the couple enjoys traveling and collecting art, as well as spending time with family and friends.
Education:
-graduated from the University of Texas in 1973 with a BBA in Accounting
-Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1975.
Work/Volunteer Experience: (Click on the image for more details)
Priorities: (Click on the image for more details)
Campaign website: unknown
Priorities:
Robert R. Hardy, the Chairman of the Hospital District Board, has served on the board for a number of years. He is a lifetime resident of Walker County and a rancher, graduated from New Waverly High School and Sam Houston State University with a BBA. He is retired from Chevron/Texaco where he was a supervisor and a Senior Staff Accountant. He has an honorable discharge from the U. S. Army. He has served on the New Waverly City Council, the New Waverly School Board and been a board member for Methodist Retirement Communities and the Chamber of Commerce. He has been a Vice-President for the Walker Co. Fair Association and Huntsville Memorial Housing. He is a trustee and deacon at First Baptist Church in Huntsville. He has been married over 50 years to his wife, Ollie and is the father of three children and the grandfather of 4.
Resume:Priorities:
Jolanda Jones believes in a Houston where a kid like her can grow up to be a successful lawyer and businesswoman, a homeowner, a City Councilmember and most importantly, a mom who can afford to give her son the opportunity for a bright future.
From a childhood of poverty to the Academic All American Hall of Fame, a successful career as an attorney fighting to reform our criminal justice system, and election to Houston’s City Council, Jolanda’s personal story sheds light on the kind of leadership, commitment, and teamwork she brings to all her endeavors.
Jolanda knows that a quality education can make the difference in a child’s future, because it did for her.
Jolanda credits an excellent public school education and a rich after-school life in sports and community with her successes. Jolanda attended Alief Elsik High School in Houston, where she graduated magna cum laude and was an All-American in track and field and basketball.
From there, she went on to the University of Houston, where she was nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship, earned an unprecedented three NCAA heptathlon championships and the title of Greatest Female Athlete of the Century. She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in political science, and later went on to earn her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. In 1984, 1988 and 1996, she qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials. Jolanda was also a member of many USA track and field teams.
Along the way, Jolanda always stayed active in the community. Because of her outstanding service, she earned Congressional recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives, a key to the city of Galveston, Texas and three Jolanda Jones Day proclamations from the cities of Houston and Galveston. Jolanda holds numerous Hall of Fame titles, and was a contestant on CBS hit TV show Survivor.
From 2008 through 2011, Jolanda served as an at-large member on the Houston City Council, where she fought for safer, stronger neighborhoods and a better quality of life for all Houstonians.
In addition to her public service, Jolanda works as a successful attorney fighting to reform our criminal justice system. She was instrumental in bringing to light the serious problems at the HPD Crime Lab, refusing to back down because innocent people were being convicted, and criminals were going free.
Of course, however, Jolanda will tell anyone that her most important job is being a mother.
From her long list of achievements, it is nearly impossible to tell that Jones’ early life was colored by tragedy and personal setbacks. Jones grew up poor, was sometimes evicted and lived in apartments that often had no electricity or running water. Her father committed suicide in her presence when she was only 13 months old and she raised her four younger siblings while still a child herself. Yet, Jones fought her way out of the ghetto because she saw a better future and a chance to serve her community.
“I learned some important lessons along the way,” says Jolanda. “I learned we don’t win in life by pushing people down. We win by lifting them up. We don’t win by tearing communities apart. We win by bringing them together. Most of all, I learned that winning ultimately means nothing unless we give back by serving others.”
Education: processing
Work/Volunteer Experience:
-Spring ISD Board of Trustees since May of 2006
-InvesTex Credit Union (26 years), Vice President of Business & Community Development/Marketing
-several PTO & Booster Club Boards
-2005 Bond Committee
-Spring ISD CTE Advisory Board
-Board for the Spring ISD Education Foundation
Priorities:
-Lived in Spring ISD for 18 years
-Children attended Spring ISD schools (Jenkins Elementary & Dueitt Middle School) and graduated from Spring High School
Challenger: LV Dever
Campaign website: unknown
Resume requested.
Spring ISD, Position 6
Incumbent: Ron Crier
Campaign website: unknown
Resume could not be requested.
Challenger: Don Davis
Campaign website: unknown
Resume:
Galveston ISD, District 3-C
Incumbent: Mary Cazares
Campaign website: unknown
Resume could not be requested.
Challenger: Julia C Hatcher
Campaign website: unknown
Resume could not be requested.
Subject:
RE: Candidate Information Inquiry
From:
Holly Sherman <HSherman@rmgllp.com>
Date:
Mon, Oct 19, 2015 1:06 pm
To:
"'info@refpac.org'" <info@refpac.org>
Dr. Jensen,
Per our conversation, you have agreed to allow the District to redact the month and days of birth of the candidates from the documents responsive to your Oct. 7, 2015 request for information to Galveston ISD. Upon further review, the District will release the documents to you, including the email addresses of the candidates. Please feel free to send the information below to the candidates upon receipt of the information from the District.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you,
HOLLY SHERMAN
ATTORNEY
Rogers, Morris & Grover, L.L.P.
5718 Westheimer, Suite 1200
Houston, Texas 77057
Main: 713-960-6000
Direct: 713-960-6024
Facsimile: 713-960-6025
Website: www.rmgllp.com
The information contained in this transmission and any attachments hereto is privileged and/or confidential information intended solely for the use of the individual(s) named above. If the reader of this message is not an intended recipient, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited.
From: info@refpac.org [mailto:info@refpac.org]
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2015 2:24 PM
To: Holly Sherman
Subject: Candidate Information Inquiry
Dear Ms. Sherman,
Thank you for forwarding this on to Mary Cazares and Julia Hatcher.
Referee PAC publishes voter information in ballot races requested by local voters. Non-ideological and non-partisan, we would like to have a copy of your resume detailing your education, work/volunteer experience, and priorities with regard to your run for office. Thank you very much for your time. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions.
The website for your race:
http://refpac.org/texas/galveston/race-galveston-isd-district-3-c/
Sample website for a similar race:
http://refpac.org/texas/harris-county/race-houston-isd-district-4/
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Jensen, PhD, PE
Referee PAC, Treasurer
(832) 279-3619
: All candidate filings and reports required by the Texas Ethics Commission and Secretary of State for the November 2015 Galveston ISD Board of Trustees election
Review:Bond Information Website
Travis County has a bond up for approval in the upcoming election. This bond is asking for $287.3 million to replace the aging 6-story family court facility with a new 14-story facility to house family, civil, and probate courts. The documentation is very well thought out with convincing graphics and a compelling case for the necessity of expansion.
Hemon Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse has been in continuous use since June 1931, with three expansions since then. The current facility has 93,000 square feet housing 19 courtrooms and ancillary spaces. 85 years later, it’s probably time to expand, since Austin has been and continues to grow.
The new facility is planned to host 33 courts and ancillary spaces in 520,000 square feet, with underground parking for staff and some public parking. The location is planned to be accessible via public transportation and close to the downtown law firms.
So far, so good. However, the price tag is another matter.
The bond asks for $287.3 million to preserve and renovate the old courthouse (documentation appears to suggest it will be demolished but that's not the case), build the new one, and furnish it. Downtown Austin property isn’t cheap these days – but let’s remember, the county already owns the property. So that cost is not included in the $287M estimates.
For comparison, let’s review other comparable projects, finished or planned.
The proposed Travis County complex is priced at $287.3 million for 520,000 square feet. This comes to $553/sf
The Harris County Criminal Justice Center opened in 2000, at a cost of approximately $95 million. This building has 20 stories housing 660,000 square feet, and cost $144/sf. Granted, Harris County isn’t Travis County, but that’s almost a four-fold increase between geographically similar areas.
If we want to compare apples to apples, Travis county has another law building in the planning – the Ronnie Earle Building, slated to house 133,000 square feet, and estimated to cost $40 million. A google search suggests that this includes courthouses, a crime lab, and underground tunnels; however, the county government says that the price is for an office building with an underground parking garage, inmate holding, and various furniture, fixtures and equipment for the project and smart court systems. The cost is around $300/sf. Land is not included in that price (which wasn't clear in the documentation); it was already held by the county (in 2010).
Based on the Harris County cost per square foot, the Travis County building should cost approximately $74.9 million. Based on the Ronnie Earle cost per square foot, this building should cost $156 million. Even using this high number, that would leave demolition and excavation for underground parking at 131.3 million or roughly 45% of the total building cost.
The county argues that the price difference is post 9/11/2001 security including secured judicial parking, blast resistant construction, and ballistic rated glass. They point that the federal courthouse in Austin was constructed at $450/sf, and argue that inflation pricing from then (2011) to now would make the cost $600/sf.
The original review and response to reviewer (with contact information for further queries) is below.
Travis County has a bond up for approval in the upcoming election. This bond is asking for $287.3 million to replace the aging 6-story family court facility with a new 14-story facility to house family, civil, and probate courts. The documentation is very well thought out with convincing graphics and a compelling case for the necessity of expansion.
Hemon Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse has been in continuous use since June 1931, with three expansions since then. The current facility has 93,000 square feet housing 19 courtrooms and ancillary spaces. 85 years later, it’s probably time to expand, since Austin has been and continues to grow.
The new facility is planned to host 33 courts and ancillary spaces in 520,000 square feet, with underground parking for staff and some public parking. The location is planned to be accessible via public transportation and close to the downtown law firms.
So far, so good. However, the price tag is another matter.
The bond asks for $287.3 million to demolish the old courthouse, build the new one, and furnish it. Downtown Austin property isn’t cheap these days – but let’s remember, the county already owns the property. So that cost should be struck from our estimates.
For comparison, let’s review other comparable projects, finished or planned.
The proposed Travis County complex is priced at $287.3 million for 520,000 square feet. This comes to $553/sf
The Harris County Criminal Justice Center opened in 2000, at a cost of approximately $95 million. This building has 20 stories housing 660,000 square feet, and cost $144/sf. Granted, Harris County isn’t Travis County, but that’s almost a four-fold increase between geographically similar areas.
If we want to compare apples to apples, Travis county has another law building in the planning – the Ronnie Earle Building, slated to house 133,000 square feet, and estimated to cost $40 million. This includes courthouses, a crime lab, and underground tunnels, and even then you’re paying some $300/sf. Land might be included in that price, I couldn’t determine whether the land was already held by the county.
Based on the Harris County cost per square foot, the Travis County building should cost approximately $74.9 million. Based on the Ronnie Earle cost per square foot, this building should cost $156 million. Even using this high number, that would leave demolition and excavation for underground parking at 131.3 million or roughly 45% of the total building cost.
Belinda Powell Belinda.Powell@traviscountytx.gov via bounce.secureserver.net
Oct 14 (6 days ago)
to info
Elizabeth,
Attached is a summary response to the issue outlined below. There are several errors in the analysis so I want to correct those first.
1. The existing Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse, (the current Civil and Family Courthouse) will not be torn down. This building will be preserved and renovated to support other court related functions including the justice of the Peace Precinct 5 offices and Courtrooms and the Constable of Precinct 5.
2. The land for the site of the proposed new Civil and Family Courts Complex is not included in the Bond amount of the current project budget. The Land was purchased in 2010.
3. The Ronnie Earl building dose not, and was never planned, by the County to house Courtrooms or a crime lab. This likely comes for a developers proposal that was not practical nor desirable for the DA site. The Ronnie Earl Building is an office building for the District Attorney’s Offices with a small underground parking garage. No tunnels are in the cost of the project at this time. They are not included in the $40 m price. The land is not included in the construction cost of the project, nor are all FF&E costs. (Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment).
As the analysis of the Bond Propositions cost per square foot please consider the following:
1. The cost per square foot figures for the Harris County project and the Travis County project are not apples to apples. The Travis County Project has a 4 levels of underground parking, underground inmate holding and transport, underground secured judicial parking, blast resistant construction and ballistic rated glass (as it is a post 911 project). The project cost also includes all FF&E for the project and smart court systems. The cost per square foot for the building is $447/square foot. While the cost for construction is still greater than the cost for the Harris County Project, this building will be designed and constructed in a different security era.
2. The Federal Courthouse constructed in Austin several years ag, (2010 to 2013) was at a $450/square foot costs. If that costs was escalated to today’s pricing it would be an approximately $600/square foot project. While the County will not construct to the same design standard as the Federal Government, these projects are slated in the same security era and the same regional market, although about 5 years apart.
I hope this information is helpful to your analysis. Please let me know if I can answer any other questions.
Regards,
Belinda
Belinda Powell
Strategic Planning Manager
Travis County Planning & Budget
Reviewer response:
She raises good points - unfortunately I'm not savvy enough to discern cost differences between security eras. The skeptic in me sees it as a metaphorical blank check to spend whatever they can get away with, but I can't deny that it will be more costly.
BONDS: Harris County Road, Parks, Veterinary, and Flood
There is a dearth of information on the 848 million dollars worth of bonds that are on the ballot[1]. The most detailed that could be found within the average research time a voter can take on any single ballot initiative was within the local "Community Impact Newspaper"[2]; this publication caters to public releases rather than journalism--it makes no effort to investigate the accuracy of the information they are provided[3,4].
With respect to the road bond ($700M), the announcement specifically notes that, "No project list is provided for the bond proposal." What this means is that they have identified the problem (congestion and a growing population), but they have no plan for alleviating it. The problem with this approach is that voters do not get to weigh in on whether (a) the projects that are developed actually could successfully reduce congestion, and (b) whether the projects that are developed are actually an efficient expenditure of funds. For example, Houston Independent School District placed $1.89M bond on the ballot with a list of projects that they would like to be funded[5] (already this was better than Harris County's road bond); however problems occurred with regard to the expenditure of funds[6]. These are the kinds of details that should be investigated when evaluating a bond measure. There is insufficient information to evaluate this bond proposal.
The Veterinary bond ($24M) also provides a lack of information as to how the problems are going to be addressed. Unwanted animals are a clear problem, but how is the $24M going to address it? What has been shown to be the most effective? None of this is discussed. Three new buildings and a renovation may or may not reduce the problem. For example, if we assume that each building requires approximately $6M to establish, is that reasonable? What do they plan to put into the building if not? In short, how are the buildings supposed to address the problem of the growing animal population? Are new buildings necessarily the solution? Would the fundamental problem be addressed more effectively by some other means? There is insufficient information to evaluate this bond proposal.
Flood control ($64M): "...during construction projects [the county works with the Flood Control District] to help improve detention and reduce flooding..." Again there is insufficient information. What construction projects? The ones not outlined in the road bond? How do they estimate the amount of flooding and where? When budgeted, how is this money spent exactly?
Parks ($60M): "...funding will be split evenly with each precinct receiving $15M to fund parks and trail projects." While the article continues to list possible projects that could be funded, they are not specified in the language. The detail of the problem is outlined clearly in recent articles with regard to the lack of park space and the role it plays in property values[7,8]. Again, the lack of details with regard to projects eliminates the possibility of evaluating the efficiency of the expenditure of funds. How much do they estimate "...improvements to the undeveloped Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve in The Vintage..." to cost exactly? How do voters within the precinct feel about spending a few million(?) dollars of their taxes on a 630-acre private development in NW Harris County? How much would the development companies, Kickerillo Companies and Mischer Investments, profit from this expenditure of public funds? What would the public get in return from subsidizing their investment? There is insufficient information to evaluate this bond.
[1]
Subject:
RE: [FWD: Ballot Inquiry]
From:
info@refpac.org
Date:
Tue, Oct 06, 2015 1:22 pm
To:
"Huerta, Daniel (Budget Management)" <Daniel.Huerta@bmd.hctx.net>
You do realize that I'm going to print this email and post it as the official word for what voters may know about the $850M worth of bonds on which they're about to decide, right?
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: [FWD: Ballot Inquiry]
From: "Huerta, Daniel (Budget Management)" <Daniel.Huerta@bmd.hctx.net>
Date: Tue, October 06, 2015 1:14 pm
To: "info@refpac.org" <info@refpac.org>
Good afternoon. All ballot language is kept by the County Clerk (713-755-6411) or the County Attorney’s Office may also be of help (713-274-5103). Thank you.
-dh
From:info@refpac.org [mailto:info@refpac.org]
Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 2:17 PM
To: Commissioners Court
Subject: [FWD: Ballot Inquiry]
Dear Madams and Sirs,
We requested ballot information with regard to the upcoming Harris County election and received no reply. Where can we find detailed information on the 4 bond propositions on the ballot totaling $848M? We are seeking to evaluate the propositions to determine if (a) the need for the money has been demonstrated, (b) the projects to be funded address the need, and (c) the projects are in sufficient detail to determine that they are an efficient use of funds.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Ballot Inquiry
From: "Referee PAC" <info@refpac.org>
Date: Tue, September 22, 2015 7:55 am
To: <info@refpac.org>
Dear Madams and Sirs,
Will your organization have any items on the ballot this November? We at Referee PAC serve the community by posting information for voters, specifically candidate resumes and bond evaluations.
Referee PAC is a non-ideological, non-partisan organization focused on campaign ethics. An example of the service that we provide to voters can be found here: Harris County Precinct 0423. Thank you very much for your time. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Jensen, PhD, PE
Referee PAC, Treasurer
(832) 279-3619
The Community Impact Newspaper failed to publish an article with regard to the issues surrounding an earlier bond in the area. The Houston Chronicle and Conroe Courier did cover it.
Resume:
Education:
Rice University, where he was active in student government and chaired the Young Republicans
degrees in history and engineering
graduating with honors from the University of Houston law school
Experience:
elected state chair by the time he was sixteen
named National Outstanding Teen-Age Republican
construction and offshore oil field work
engineer in the oil industry.
designed and oversaw drilling and producing wells in different areas of the country and offshore, supervised engineering teams, and managed multi-million-dollar projects constructing and installing onshore and offshore platforms, facilities, and pipelines.
patent lawyer
law practice primarily involves oil and gas disputes and transactions
partner with the law firm of McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore since 2001.
lector at the 4,000-family St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church, where he was formerly president of the Pastoral Council and Committee Chair of the Boy Scout Troop
president of St. Catherine’s Montessori School, overseeing a multi-million-dollar capital campaign, and served for four years on the board of Incarnate Word Academy in downtown Houston.
Accomplishments:
Modernizing and expanding the fall 2014 campaign to be unified and grassroots-based, electing all countywide Republican candidates for the first time since 2006 and winning every countywide vote for the first time in a decade
Contacting voters via 1.1 million volunteer phone calls and knocking on over 115,000 doors in 2014 & 2015
Identifying 87,147 new Republicans
Recruiting over 150 new Precinct Chairs
Raising $2.6 million from 929 donors
Conducting the first outside audit in 20 years
Moving to a new, larger central headquarters, and opening offices around the County: 7 campaign offices in 2014 and 3 satellites staffed year-round in 2015
Expanding full-time staff, with field organizers in every office to recruit & train year-round
Pioneering state-of-the-art technology and voter data for grassroots to organize teams and to contact voters year-round
Leading grassroots efforts in 2015 Houston elections to defeat HERO and to elect candidates in the runoff, resulting in the closest Mayor's race in over 50 years.
Priorities: (Click on the image for more details)
