Execs give to Bush after firms win Harvey bids
No state law prohibits donations, but critics see conflict of interest
AUSTIN — Executives from several companies getting millions of dollars in contracts to rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Harvey gave thousands to Land Commissioner George P. Bush’s re-election fund within days of the contracts being signed.
More than a dozen Horne LLP executives gave $27,500 dollars in political contributions to Bush just three days after the company signed a $13.47 million contract to assist with financial oversight and other administrative duties of federal and state Harvey recovery funds.
In October, James W. Turner Construction won $20 million contract from the GLO’s office to rebuild homes. A month earlier, James Turner, the president and CEO of the company, donated $5,000 to Bush’s re-election campaign. A few months later, Windstorm Mitigation, a Florida-based company, signed a $9 million contract to install and maintain temporary housing units. But just over two weeks before the contract was signed on Dec. 15, Ken Cashin, the company’s president, gave $2,500 to Bush.
None of the contributors from the three firms have given money to other Texas politicians. In 2013, Turner donated $3,000 to Bush.
Influence of money
There are no state laws that prohibit donations from employees of state contractors, but some watchdogs say the donations raise questions about the influence of money in politics.
“The timing — if you take it just before or just after — looks bad both ways, especially if these are people who haven’t given before and haven’t given to other state officials, it looks like quid pro quo,” said Andrew Wheat with Texans for Public Justice, a group that tracks political spending.
Ash Wright, Bush’s political director, dismissed any suggestion of any conflict of interest.
“This is the biggest non-story in the history of non-stories,” he said. “Yes, businesses support Commissioner Bush, as they do other conservative candidates.”
Joey Havens, an executive partner with Horne, said the company does not comment on employees’ personal contributions, charitable or otherwise. Havens, who personally gave $3,000 to Bush, said the company has worked with state since 2010.
“I have confirmed that none of our partners or staff have ever discussed the referenced [contract] with the Commissioner nor has the Commissioner requested a political donation,” Havens said, noting that the company received the contract through a competitive bid process.
Political foe: Give cash back
Miguel Suazo, a Democrat vying for Bush’s seat, suggested Bush should send the money back. The Texas Democratic Party characterized the donations as Bush “[lining] his pockets.”
“Everyone knows this stinks. Any way you slice it, an exchange of money for government contracts is never good,” said Manny Garcia, the Democratic Party executive director.
The Texas Tribune first reported the donations made by the Horne executives Friday, and the Houston Chronicle found two additional companies whose executives donated to Bush.
Bush is in the midst of a reelection campaign against three other Republicans, including former land commissioner Jerry Patterson, who has strongly criticized Bush’s response to Harvey.
Wright said the “real story” is that Bush “cleaned up his predecessor’s practice of routinely handing out no-bid contracts.”
Patterson said “appearance is an issue” with the contributions.
“The contributions don’t bother me as much as he is simply not doing his job,” Patterson said, noting Bush has traveled to San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and other cities for fundraising events.
Wheat, the fiscal watchdog, said the donations undermine faith in government.
“It would not be worth taking that amount of money to lose that amount of credibility,” Wheat said.