Conflicts, Bankruptcies, and a Convicted Criminal (Involved in trying to toll our freeways).

The CTRMA, the first public highway tolling authority in the country, is made up of mostly Williamson County people, even though Williamson County is one-third the population and most the toll roads are in Travis.

Should Williamson County be tolling Travis County?

Robert Tesch, CTRMA chair, has real estate interests in Williamson County that will benefit from the tolls on 183A, the CTRMA's first toll road. Comptroller Strayhorn reports that one of his properties have already increased more than 600% in value since he became chair. Tesch defaulted on "personal, business or student loan(s)" as disclosed in his “Governors Appointment Application", not to mention a bankruptcy in Dallas and pending foreclosure in Plano.

James Mills, CTRMA Board member, has a bankruptcy and his real estate interests can benefit from the tolls. The CTRMA board hired Mike Heiligenstein, as Executive Director, even with a bankruptcy in his past. Heiligenstein get a 120,000 a year salary (plus car expenses). Mills and Heiligenstein have been doing land deals together for years. Yes, they're both from Williamson County!

Should those who have failed in their own finances be in charge of tolling our freeways? Should these unelected people toll us for freeways we've already paid for while their friends get "no bid" contracts?

Numerous ties to WilCo convicted criminal Amos "Pete" Peters have recently been found in the comptrollers report. Peters 20 year CRIMINAL RECORD includes check swindling, criminal mischief, DWI, larceny and four fraud convictions. He's spent two years in jail and also earned $4,000 a month from WilCo's road bond budget. Records show, TxDOT’s District Engineer Bob Daigh met with Peters many times in 2004, at times alone and other times with Mike Weaver of Prime Strategies, Inc.


Financial campaign reports show Pete Peters has also contributed to Karen Sonlietner. Weaver has hired Peters company, The Communicators, for bond projects in Williamson County before. Mike Weaver's Prime Strategies, Inc helped create the CTRMA and profited well. Past invoices from HB Media to the CTRMA show "Pete" Peters made $150 an hour and about $12,000 a month. To this day Peters works with HB Media. I'm told they are working hard on getting Trans Texas Corridor media projects through Cintra.

THE CIRCLE OF INCESTUOUS DEALINGS.

Official bankruptcy affidavit records show that Mike Heiligenstein, now CTRMA executive director, owed James Mills & Mike Robinson in the Heiligenstein bankruptcy. Then as Williamson County Commissioner, Heiligenstein appointed Mills & Robinson as CTRMA board members. As CTRMA board members, Mills & Robinson hired Heiligenstein as Executive Director of the CTRMA.

Should these characters be tolling us for freeways we've already paid for?

Last year the CTRMA said it would cost 12 to 15 cents a mile per toll. Only a year later we find out the price has increased to 44 to 64 cents a mile.

Sign one of these petitions today: Central Texas REPLACE TOLLERS or REPLACE Texas LOOTERS