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Wednesday, February 28, 2001
Let Us Vote donation questioned
State: Donor probably should be revealed
By Samuel Segrist
Caller-Times

Spencer

Whoever made a large donation to the group Let Us Vote Corpus Christi in January probably needs to be revealed, the general counsel of the Texas Ethics Commission said on Tuesday.
   Counsel Karen Lundquist said that the more than $9,500 given to the campaign was probably a political contribution, and needed to be reported as such. Group members have argued that the contribution was a gift with no restrictions given to the group's president, Chuck Spencer, and therefore does not need to be reported.
   Lundquist, who hasn't started an investigation into the matter, said that contributions made either to a group or an individual in that group need to be reported in most cases. An exception would be if the donation were specifically earmarked for non-campaign purposes.
   The argument that the donation came without restrictions does not shield a donor from being revealed, she said, as most political contributions come with no strings attached.
   "Otherwise, every contributor would be anonymous," she said.
   Spencer said Tuesday that he had not heard from the state and had no plans to reveal the donor.
   "We're still of the opinion that it was a gift to us that we could use how we see fit," said Spencer, who said he was ready to fight the matter in court if he had to.
   Members of Let Us Vote turned in the financial report on Monday.
   Spencer, who was listed as the only donor in the form, contributed $9,624.55 to his group.
   The group president said the donor had heard about the Let Us Vote petition drive, but had given the cash with the only stipulation being that it be spent on environmental causes.
   The donation gave a major boost to the campaign, as the group was able to combine volunteers with hired block walkers to collect more than 8,000 signatures for the petition, which was accepted by the City Council last week.
   But the donation could cause trouble for the members who made up Let Us Vote, Lundquist said. If found in violation of the Texas Election Code, the group can be charged with a Class C misdemeanor and fined up to $500.
   District Attorney Carlos Valdez said his office had not investigated the matter and had no opinion on the donation, though he would investigate the matter if he received a complaint.
   But the Texas Ethics Commission can also file a civil case against the group, and the commission can impose a fine up to three times the amount of the undisclosed donation, Lundquist said. According to commission rules, the agency will need to receive a sworn complaint before an investigation can begin.
   One Padre Island resident said she plans to file that complaint. Gladys Choyke, a member of the pro-Packery group Corpus Christi Yes, said she had contacted the ethics commission on Tuesday about filing a complaint.
   Choyke, who owns Isle Mail and More on the island, has been involved in pro-development campaigns, including Forward Corpus Christi. She said that Let Us Vote didn't follow the rules.
   "If we had tried to pull a shenanigan like that, we would have been nailed to the wall," Choyke said. "It's unfair. It's absolutely incredulous of them to think they don't have to report this."
   The petition called for a vote on the existence of the special taxing district, which has been created to fund the city's share of $10.5 million in bonds for the dredging of the Packery Channel. Opening the channel is considered an integral part of a real estate development project around the site.
   Now that the item has gone on the ballot, the group has since disbanded Let Us Vote and formed Let Our Voices Echo, Spencer said. The new group will focus on defeating Packery, while the old group was concerned with putting the issue on the ballot.
   Members held a strategy session earlier in the week and are putting together brochures, an Internet site and a group of speakers to appear at meetings around the city.
   And yes, the group will be seeking donations, Spencer said.

Contact staff writer Samuel Segrist at _886-3764 or by e-mail at segrists@caller.com

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