"Juan Garcia is a proven leader who will represent the Coastal Bend at the state capitol with distinction and make us all proud," said Texas Parent PAC board member Bev Barrow of Corpus Christi.
Pretty much sums up why he is our TexRoots candidate. Garcia is one of a handful of amazing candidates that have received this endorsement and all look to put children and education at the top of their list going into January.
Why Juan?
“Everyone who meets Juan Garcia is impressed with his intelligence, professional accomplishments, distinguished military career, and commitment to children and families.”
“Unlike the incumbent, Juan Garcia will work as a partner with advocates for public education and will have a voting record to substantiate his support for our neighborhood schools,” Barrow added.
Hot September day, free ice cream advertised for weeks in local papers, large convention center rented, and an opportunity to meet CondoGate superstar Gene Seaman.
Any guess on how many people show up?
If you answer is around 15 people then you are right!
Seaman had a 'ice cream social (if you don't know what that is ask your grandparents) at the Paws and Taw Convention Center in Fulton, TX yesterday and almost no one showed up. My God, I could flag down more people off the street than that.
After being on the front cover of the Caller Times threedifferentdays for illegally claiming two homestead exemptions and laundering campaign contributions through your wife, who can blame people for not showing up. Seaman will want to blame everyone (including his wife) for this scandal. However, let's be clear, the only person to blame for this is Gene Seaman himself.
He claims to be a land developer so he cannot plead ignorance to homestead laws. He's been in the Lege for almost ten years so he cannot plead ignorance to knowing that you CANNOT use campaign contributions for personal enrichment.
Incompetent or Corrupt or Both. You decide.
Let's see what people in the Coastal Bend are saying today:
Bad sign I remember the time when Clayton Williams refused to shake Ann Richards' hand and made the statement that women "should lay back and enjoy" a rape. My first thought was: "He just lost the election," which he did.
Rep. Gene Seaman's contention that his payment of $44,000 to his wife and the "misunderstanding" about the double-dipping on the homestead exception was his wife's fault gave me the same feeling. He just lost his re-election bid.
He is probably not too concerned, since he stated a few days ago that "for the $600 a month he gets as a state representative he might as well go back to selling insurance." If that's what he wants to do, I am sure Juan Garcia can accommodate him.
Just a suggestion to future male politicians, if you doing something illegal or crooked, own up to it and don't throw your wife under the bus. It makes you look like a coward and crappy husband.
So who do you want representing you, a man who tries to cover his prescription for Viagra, cheats on his taxes, and pushes his wife under a busOR a veteran, Harvard grad, and community leader.
"[T]he truth is [Thompson's] city has seen a 20 percent increase in violent crimes. Why isn't that the issue?" [said Stromberg].
Probably because that's not actually the truth. Houston has seen a 2.4 percent increase in violent crime over the past year, which incidentally is nearly identical to the rise in the violent crime rate nationwide.
Rick Perry's staff is claiming that CHIP is fully funded. Is that actually true?
In 2004, 42% of Texans age 18-29 voted, but in 2002, only 17% did, according to a story in today's Star Telegram.
DMN endorses a bunch of Republicans and Democrat Bill Moody for the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals. (The endorsements went to the Republicans admittedly by default, since almost all of GOP candidates were running unopposed, had only Libertarian opponents, or had Democratic opponents who refused to show up for interviews). Not that newspapers endorsements ever sway races one way or the other, but considering that even Paul Burka is suggesting that Democrats are moving closer to competitiveness running statewide, these races seem like missed opportunities and a good example of why we need a "Run Everywhere" strategy.
CondoGate superstar, Gene Seaman, attended the Dedication Ceremony for the Global War of Terrorism Monument in Corpus Christi yesterday. The Keynote speaker was Gov. Rick Perry (yes, he did use this speech to slip in campaign language, pathetic - bleh).
Seaman slinked around the event like he was the unpopular kid who came to prom without a date. While everyone was chatting with their neighbor, no one came by to even say boo.
Seaman was not even allowed to sit on the stage with Gov. Hairball. Perry barely looked in his direction. He sat the entire event with no one within a seat of him. It was like he was carrying Ebola or leprosy. Actually, I think it was the Perry staffers who kept him away from the Gov. It looked like they were ready to tackle him if he came near Perry. Instructions: Keep him out of my hair. To add insult to injury, while local dignitaries and special guests were being recognized by name (city council, active military, police chief, deputy police chief, cub scout leaders), Seaman was not acknowledged even though he was sitting in the front row. Literally in the front row. Dead center.
Burn.
I don't blame Ricky for distancing himself. His poll numbers are looking worse and worse. Last thing the Gov. needs is to be involved in a TAX EVASION SCANDAL. He's got a plenty of scandals. Go CHRIS GO! Pssst, hey Eugene... take the hint... there is no value in being anywhere near you...you are now officially a liability.
At the unveiling, Gene Seaman stood around the monument waiting for someone to invite him into the pictures. No takers. Guess you can always go home to your wife.
Being caught cheating on your taxes & funneling campaigin contributions back to yourself: 10,000 votes
Having to repay back taxes you owe to the county for restitution: thousands of dollars
Blaming the entire scandal on your wife: Priceless.
Two simple rules: 1) Texas law forbids using campaign contribution for personal enrichment like buying yourself a condo. 2) You can only claim one (1) homestead tax exemption. To claim more than one is illegal.
Real World Rule #1: Unless you like sleeping on the couch, don’t throw you wife under the bus for something you did.
In an ever expanding scandal where Legislators are being caught funneling campaign contribution back into their accounts through their spouses, current representative for HD 32, Gene Seaman (R-Corpus Christi) is finding himself at the center of the storm.
FACT PATTERN 1: The "Rent to Own" Scheme
Gene Seaman’s wife, Ellen Seaman, bought a condo with cash on Town Lake in Austin in 1999. She has a front company called Austin Land Co. This front company is not registered with the Secretary of State thereby hiding the true owner(s) of this property. Gene Seaman has paid over $126,000 from campaign contributions to pay his wife rent and condo dues through Austin Land Co. Austin Land Co. mailing address is the condo’s address (guess that make dropping off “rent” easy).
If you weren’t doing anything wrong, why would Seaman go through all the trouble to hide that his wife was receiving a monthly check from the campaign fund? So who gets the blame for this? The wife, of course. From an early report from Texas Weekly “he puts the blame squarely on the candidates wife: ‘Ellen owns the property, she made an honest mistake and was totally unaware of it until you raised the question. This is not a Gene Seaman mistake’” Nice. I can see it now, “Honey, while you are out can you pick up some more Ensure and…. take the fall for my total lack of moral center and integrity.”
I am sure that the Insurance PACs that have given him almost $300,000 do not have a problem giving for his mortgage and ultimately to his personal checking account. However, I have real trouble believing that Joe-Donor likes to think of his contribution should go to paying for the mortgage on Seaman’s luxury condo on the lake.
I have a question for the taxman. If Seaman sells the condo, will he report the sale as income since he’s pouring campaign contributions into the equity of the condo or he will play dumb, not pay taxes by saying it non-taxable event. Does Seaman depreciate the value the condo since they claim its a rental property? I thought it was a homestead?
State Representatives Gene Seaman, Rob Eissler and Vicki Truitt, as well as State Senator Kim Brimer appear to be involved in potentially illegal (case by case) schemes- using campaign funds to pay for Austin area properties.
Each of these "Rent to Own Republicans" employs a different method to skirt the law, but it is evident in each case that the practice of using a spouse as a funnel to convert campaign contributions into mortgage payments or condo dues is simply improper. While Texas families are working hard to make their house payment every month, these Republicans are buying luxury condos courtesy of their special interest contributors.
Because Gene Seaman is the only one of these folks who has a competitive challenger (or even an opponent), let's focus on his tale which the Corpus Christi Caller Times has already picked up on.
State Rep. Gene Seaman used campaign contributions to pay his wife $44,000 since at least 2002 for an Austin condominium that he sometimes occupies. He also used at least $19,500 in contributions to pay condo fees during the same period.
Seaman's campaign finance reports indicate that he has paid $1,000 a month rent for a condo at the Towers of Town Lake, a waterfront high-rise complex with a view of Town Lake and downtown Austin, for the past several years. The same reports indicate he paid roughly $500 in additional condo association/homeowner association fees each month.
The rent checks, according to Seaman's finance reports, were made out to Austin Land Co., which is listed at the same address as the condo he is renting. Yet as of Friday afternoon, there was no Austin Land Co. with offices at that address, and the Texas Secretary of State did not have a record of a company by that name currently operating in the state.
Instead, the money has been going to Seaman's wife, Ellen, who is listed on Travis County tax rolls as the sole owner of the condo, Seaman's spokesman Mac McCall said.
BOR has gotten ahold of these materials and you can view them online. Click the links below to view...
1) Seaman's TEC Reports- rent & assoc. dues paid to non-existent Austin Land Co.
2) TCAD report listing Ellen Seaman at the address with a Homestead Exemption
3) Picture of the Seaman property
It's an illegal error, appraisal district officials said.
The Austin condo, valued at $234,345 by the Travis County Appraisal District, carries a homestead exemption as well as an over-65 exemption. The couple's Ocean Drive home, valued at $316,369 by the Nueces County Appraisal District, is in Gene Seaman's name and has the same exemptions, which is illegal under Texas law, according to appraisal district officials.
Unless Gene and Ellen Seaman were divorced or legally separated, they could not legally have the two sets of exemptions, said Nueces County Assistant Chief Appraiser Michael Mantz.
I'll follow up with two points.
1) Democrat Juan Garcia is a TexRoots endorsed candidate worthy of your $$ running against Seaman. Donate here, please.
2) There are reasons we should have a Run, Everywhere strategy. There are lightning strikes. Vikki Truitt has no Democratic opponent. Will Brimer have one in 2 years? It's too late for that now, but you can support Juan Garcia.
Last week, we launched an online fundraising drive for something we call "Texroots." It has been brought to my attention that we didn't really explain what this "Texroots" fundraiser is, how it works, or anything like that. Here is a post with our frequently asked questions about Texroots fundraising. If you have any additional questions, let us know in the comments, and KT or I will respond shortly.
Q. What does "Texroots" Mean?"
Texroots is a take on the more popular term, "netroots" which is often used to describe an internet-based grassroots effort. These efforts usually involve coordinateion with blogs. Here in Texas, the Texroots efforts are backed by the Texas Progressive Alliance, a collection of Texas blogs that support and promote Democratic causes and candidates. Click on the link to see which blogs are part of the Alliance.
What is the Texroots Endorsement Project?
The Texroots Endorsements are candidates that a majority of blogs in the Texas Progressive Alliance have agreed to raise money for and support. Our aim, from now until Election Day, is to maintain an online fundraising drive for endorsed candidates. We will raise the money through ActBlue.
Why should I support the Texroots endorsed candidates?
We don't want to blindly ask for money. We try to inspire you to give. We'll promote, feature, and highlight accomplishments of every one of our candidates, because we believe money is best spent on candidates that are truly fighting for the people of Texas. It's our way of giving back, and it's our way of helping you be one of many to make a small difference, so that collectively, we can make a big difference on the political landscape of Texas.
Our aim is to give you reasons how and why these candidates need your help, and then provide you an easy way to donate money. For example, our post about Juan Garcia being attacked by Gene Seaman -- if you find Seaman's accusations outrageous, or are embarassed that a Texas House member would purposefully impersonate a flaccid penis on the House floor, donate $10, $25, or $50 to Garcia's campaign and help make a difference.
(Help Juan Garcia defeat Gene Seaman by donating to his camapign. Donate $10, $25, $50 -- whatever you can -- and show Gene Seaman that Republicans can no longer senselessly attack Democrats on their military history. - promoted by Phillip Martin)
From the Caller-Times, we learn that Republican incumbent Gene Seaman attacked his opponent in the HD 32 race, Juan Garcia, about his naval flight record:
"He's not a fighter pilot," Seaman asserted. "He never flew jets, he flew P-3s. He is not a fighter pilot even though he takes his picture behind a jet."
Juan Garcia would have responded directly to the attack, except he is serving his annual active duty requirement from August 12-21. The campaign, therefore, released the following press release in response to Seaman's attack:
Garcia spent 13 years on active duty as a naval aviator, after receiving his "Wings of Gold" here at NAS Corpus Christi.
In each of five fleet tours, he was ranked as the #1 officer in his unit (see attached fitness reports).
He has deployed to the Western Pacific, to the Persian Gulf twice, and served during the Kosovo conflict.
He has logged 2,500 flight hours in military aircraft.
His military awards include the Joint Commendation Medal, two Navy Commendation Medals, and two Navy Achievement Medals.
During the last three months, while balancing his full-time profession as an attorney and campaigning across the four-county district, Garcia has flown over 60 pilot-training sorties.
For more about Seaman's attack, read Vince's post at Capitol Annex. Help Juan Garcia defeat Gene Seaman by donating to his camapign. Donate $10, $25, $50 -- whatever you can -- and show Gene Seaman that Republicans can no longer senselessly attack Democrats on their military history.
Perhaps Gene Seaman should spend more time respecting our military, and less time defending and fighting for Viagra on the House floor. Pinkdome has put up an excellent YouTube video showing Seaman pretending to act like...well, you'll have to see it to actually believe it. Watch the video below the fold.
