Bush to leave Alamo board amid concerns
Move follows Statesman report on issues found in unreleased draft audit.
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush plans to resign this spring from the board of the Alamo Trust, the nonprofit that manages day-to-day operations of the state’s most iconic site.
The decision follows reporting last week by the American-Statesman about an unreleased draft audit report, prepared by internal auditors for the General Land Office, that found that the agency’s use of the nonprofit was unduly complicated and sometimes led to practices that run afoul of state requirements.
“Commissioner Bush con-
tinues to demonstrate his dedication to ensuring the highest level of integrity, accountability and transparency in Alamo operations,” Bush press secretary Brittany Eck said Thursday. “In this endeavor, he made the decision that, as the head of the state agency overseeing operational expenses, he will no longer also serve on the Alamo Trust’s board. His focus continues to be the core mission of preserving the Alamo and recapturing the 1836 Battlefield.”
Bush broke the news of his decision in a conversation Wednesday with the San Antonio Express-News editorial board.
The Statesman obtained a copy of the 23-page draft audit report, dated Sept. 8. Bush has described the draft as “doctored,” without being specific about just how it had been altered. His agency has said the Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating.
Members of the state Senate Finance Committee shared concerns similar to those described in the draft report when Bush testified before them at a Dec. 5 hearing. The senators were unaware of the draft audit that had been prepared three months earlier.
Eck said the final audit report, with the agency’s response, will be made public in the spring. Bush’s stewardship of the Alamo has been an issue in his GOP primary campaign against his predecessor, Jerry Patterson, and two lesser-known candidates. The primary is March 6.
The Express-News reported that in a conference call Wednesday with members of its editorial board, Bush said the Senate Finance Committee had recommended that he resign from the Alamo Trust board “so that there is no appearance of favoritism” between his agency and the Alamo Trust, which was set up by Bush after his election in 2014.
“It is my intent to resign from Alamo Trust so I wear exclusively the hat of being land commissioner on the reimbursement side of the ledger,” Bush told the Express-News.
It was not clear what Bush was referring to when he said that the Senate Finance Committee had recommended he resign, and Eck did not elaborate.
At the Finance Committee hearing, senators expressed concerns that the creation of three nonprofits to manage, promote and raise money for the Alamo — each with its own mission but with identical boards made up of Bush and 10 of the state’s most recognizable figures in the world of fundraising — was too convoluted. They were especially concerned about the use of the Alamo Trust to manage daily operations using state money but with less transparency than if those employees were on the General Land Office payroll.
No one specifically asked Bush to step down from any of the boards during the hearing, though Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, questioned how Bush divided his responsibilities on financial matters when acting as land commissioner and as chairman or board member of each of the nonprofits.
Bush plans to remain a member of the Remember the Alamo Foundation, which is dedicated to private fundraising, and chairman of the Alamo Endowment, which oversees both the Alamo Trust and the Remember the Alamo Foundation.
Patterson on Thursday faulted Bush’s rationale for leaving the Alamo Trust board and questioned its ultimate consequence.
“If you’re right, you don’t need to worry about appearances, unless you’re George P. Bush,” Patterson said. “When is he going to learn, it’s not about looking good for the next election, it’s about doing your job. He still appoints the entire board of directors and has already signed contracts for both contracting parties. What a sham.”