The Muckraker

3/16/2006

Major voting irregularities found. Our attorney, and endorsed former Justice Steve Smith considers contest or challenge.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (March 16, 2006)
www.SmithForSupremeCourt.com

Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Steve Smith
may file an election contest or request for recount,
says “serious mistakes were made.”

Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Steve Smith announced today that he has taken the next step towards filing an election contest or request for recount in his race for Texas Supreme Court, Place 2. “Serious Mistakes were made in the counting of ballots in Tarrant County. We want one fair, accurate and complete count,” Smith said. “To that end, we have filed a Public Information Act request with the Tarrant County Elections Administrator seeking to review public documents relating to the Republican Party primary election in Tarrant County,” added David Rogers, Smith's campaign manager.

“Unfortunately, the true result in Tarrant County may never be known,” said David Rogers, Campaign Manager for former Justice Smith. Though there were 211 election day voting locations for the 635 precincts, audit tapes reporting the election results in each machine were run in only 103 locations. One hundred and eight (51%) of the voting locations did not have properly run audit tapes.

Initial results in Tarrant County included 27,895 phantom votes. The final statewide margin between Smith and Willett was 5,441 votes. The first “corrected” result reported by Tarrant County was a margin of 7,922 (62%-38%). That margin is larger in terms of raw votes than the margin in Harris County, Dallas County or Bexar County, all of which have substantially larger populations than Tarrant County. The “corrected” results switched the first and second place results in Tarrant County's 342th District Court.

Those numbers for Tarrant County are suspect in part because Tarrant County voted for Smith in the 2004 primary by 11,423 to 10,331 (53%-47%), and Smith only lost Tarrant County in the 2002 by 17,411 to 15, 215 (47%-53%). In 2002 and 2004, the statewide margins were substantially higher (7% and 6%, respectively) than the statewide margin in 2006 (less than 1%). The combined statewide margin between Smith and his primary opponents over three elections is less than 1/40th of one percent (417 votes). (Smith: 841,586; Rodriguez, Green & Willett combined: 842,003.) If Smith's margin in Tarrant County is actually the same as his margin in either 2002 or 2004, he won statewide.

Despite the fact that Tarrant County Interim Elections Administrator Gayle Hamilton has expressed a desire to count the Tarrant County ballots correctly, attorneys for the Tarrant County District Attorney's office and the Secretary of State's office have told Hamilton she may not count the ballots without a court order, an election contest or request for a recount.

“To date, there has not been a correct count of Tarrant County ballots,” said Rogers. “There has been an incorrect count and there has been an attempt to correct the errors in that count. What we want - and what we understand the County Elections Administrator and the County Republican Chair want - is a single correct count of the ballots in Tarrant County. We know for certain that mistakes were made, and the acknowledged mistakes changed the Tarrant County result by a number of votes more than double the remaining statewide margin. Former Justice Smith thinks that a single accurate count is a reasonable request.”

The Texas Election Code requires that a recount for a statewide office would require that all paper ballots statewide be recounted in addition to the ballots in Tarrant County, and that the expense would be borne by the party requesting the recount.

Additionally, in far west Texas, Winkler County, which went for Smith by margins of 260-92 (74%) and 468-249 (65%) in the 2002 and 2004 elections, went against Smith by an unbelievable 0-273 (100%) margin. Governor Perry received only 83% of the vote in Winkler County, and no other contested candidate topped 80%. The propositions on the ballot topped out at 93%.

Winkler county used machines from Election Systems and Software (ES&S), a company that was severely criticized by county officials in Webb county for programming errors and delays during the primary election, according to reports from the Laredo Morning Times of March 14, 2006. ES&S machines operate in 144 of Texas's 254 counties.

Beyond that, Duval County, made infamous by Lyndon Johnson's 1948 theft of the U.S. Senate election in that county, has reported an astonishing 55% turnout, with allegations of vote farming and vote fraud, as reported in the March 16, 2006 Corpus Christi Caller-Times.

Additionally, Jefferson County vote totals were changed by more than 1,500 for each candidate in a race for Jefferson County Judge when a recount was held on Monday, according to reports from the March 14, 2006 edition of the Beaumont Enterprise. Jefferson County had double-counted some ballots, including 644 Republican ballots. (The Jefferson County margin between Smith and Willett is 325 votes.) Some precincts had reported more votes than voters. Tarrant County double, triple, quadruple, quintuple and sextuple-counted some votes. The Enterprise reported that ES&S would cover the cost for the recount in Jefferson County, estimated at $8,000.

According to a March 16, 2006 report in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Tarrant County will charge any candidate who wants a recount. No mention was made of any offer by Hart InterCivic, whose machines were used in Tarrant County, to pick up the cost of a correct count.

Smith won 152 of 254 counties. No Republican primary was held in 18 counties, and the candidates tied in 2 counties. Willett won 82 counties (33%).

Steve Smith is best known as a conservative former Justice of the Texas Supreme Court who was elected in 2002 despite opposition from insurance industry interests. In private practice, Smith was best known as the attorney who filed, litigated and won the Hopwood case that ended racial preferences at Texas universities from 1996 through 2003. Smith served as a Justice on the Texas Supreme Court from Nov. 20 of 2002 until Dec. 31, 2004, and was one of only two Republican justices who did not accept contributions from insurance industry front group Texans for Lawsuit Reform.

Bell loses predecessor's backing

Latest Rasmussen Poll on Gov. Race

AUSTIN CHRON: "Anti-tollsters, like zombies, feed only on living political flesh". (click here - near Bottom of page).

"...Eckhardt's election may in fact
throw some additional sand in the gears
of the more grandiose regional toll plans..."
– Austin Chronicle, 3/16/06
click above to read more.

SA EXPRESS: With toll roads, the devils in the details could be astounding.

3/15/2006

Sanchez, Price Sign Strayhorn Petition

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
www.OneToughGrandma.com
March 15, 2006
512-469-9393

TONY SANCHEZ, SPEAKER PRICE AMONG THOUSANDS WHO HAVE SIGNED CAROLE KEETON STRAYHORN’S PETITION

(AUSTIN) – In a show of bipartisan support for her campaign, Independent Gubernatorial candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn announced that former Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Tony Sanchez and Republican and former Speaker of the Texas House Rayford Price have signed her petition to place her name on the November ballot.

“Republicans, Democrats and Independent signers are all Texans who care about the future of Texas and know that Carole Keeton Strayhorn will shake up state government in Austin,” she said.

Sanchez was the Democratic Party’s nominee for Governor in 2002. Price served as Speaker of the House in 1972 and became a Republican in May of 1973.

“Carole Strayhorn is committed to making the kind of changes we need in education,” Price said. “She will put the children’s interests ahead of the special interests.”

Sanchez said: “Carole cares passionately about our state and cares passionately about issues that are important to Texans, such as education. She has been my friend for over 20 years.

“She is an honest person and an ethical person and she will be a governor who will be very inclusive,” he said. “My family and I have a lot of respect for her.”

Toller Gonzalo Barrientos, CTRMA's Lowell H. Lebermann & Ray Brimble

STATESMAN: Letter to Editor Today...

The Toll Party's triumph

In the March 8 American-Statesman under "Urban Affairs," the Statesman writer casts a doubt on the effectiveness of Sal Costello and the Austin Toll Party: "The jury remains out on the political power of the tool road issue."

Well, I don't know about politics, but I pass over William Cannon Drive on MoPac Boulevard every day, and I (and thousands of others) don't pay a toll, thanks completely to Sal Costello and the Austin Toll Party. There's no doubt about the verdict.

MARVIN GILBREATH
Austin

3/14/2006

SA EXPRESS: Texas' fast track to toll roads leaves unanswered questions.

Why the hell not? Because Kinky is irresponsible.

Kinky Friedman is irresponsible.

As candidate for Governor he only voted once in the past 12 years!

There were hundreds of candidates running in the primaries throughout Texas, maybe thousands. Kinky didn't give a rat's ass about any of them.

The 10 million who normally wouldn't vote in the primary were not enough for his 45,000 sigs. So he told people not to vote. That's irresponsible in my book, and it has ramifications for every one of the candidates who ran in Texas.

In contrast, independent candidate Carole Strayhorn told folks to go vote for pro-education candidates and vote against tollers.

This past weekend he was caught by the Associated Press violating Texas law as he was seen drinking beer while in a car.

OK, so the guy might be funny to some folks. But one liners are certainly not solutions. Heck, I like Bozo the clown, but I wouldn't consider voting for him for county dog catcher.

Kinky has no shame. He's so desperate, his car was parked out in front of Strayhorn's campaign office this week to try and intercept signatures from folks going to one tough grandma's house to sign.

Years ago, the National Organization for Women named Kinky Friedman "Male Chauvinist Pig of the Year" for his song, "Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed."

The fact is Kinky is not serious about this Governor position. He's using this campaign as an opportunity to sell a few more books and a few more comic show tickets for his upcoming tour after the November election.

That's the real joke on Texans. But we can't afford this distraction if we are serious about removing special interest Gov. Perry.

To be a viable candidate for Governor, Kinky knows millions of dollars are needed to communicate with millions of Texans. Strayhorn is the only candidate with the millions to take on special interest Governor Perry. When it comes right down to it, this is a two person race. Strayhorn and Perry.

Is it responsible to tell others NOT to sign Kinky's petition? I'll let you decide. Write a letter to your editor today and tell them what you think.

3/13/2006

Central Texas Looters that must be FIRED. (Click Here)

Brewster "The Weasel" McCracken

AA Statesman: Time is coming for what seemed like good idea: to toll later.

3/12/2006

Phantom votes found. One more Toll Party victory coming?

It appeared that our endorsed Steve Smith lost his election by a fraction of 1 percent, But, the press is now reporting that phantom votes have been found in Tarrant County.

Smith, with virtually no money, went up against Don Willett (who was appointed by Gov. Perry with NO expreience) who amassed over $600,000 of special interest dollars.

Excluding Tarrant County, Steve Smith, PET Inc Attorney and Texas Supreme Court Justice candidate, is leading statewide by three thousand votes.

Candidates and the local Republican Party are pressing the Tarrant County election administrator to count all the ballots properly, once. She says she wants to do it -- but the lawyers at the Secretary of State's office and the local D.A.'s office are stopping her. Dallas News reports:

"County officials said the only race potentially affected was the close contest between GOP incumbent Don Willett and challenger Steve Smith for the Texas Supreme Court Place 2 seat. It's not clear yet whether the new numbers would alter the outcome of that race.

David Rogers, campaign manager for Mr. Smith, said his candidate is considering asking the secretary of state for a recount. Mr. Smith originally lost by 21,000 votes, but the margin is now fewer than 5,000.

By early Wednesday, the Tarrant County Web site reported that 98,324 people had cast ballots in the GOP governor's race. The actual number was 28,374."

ABC NEWS: Kinky Violates Texas Law.

3/11/2006

Costello as Guest Blogger: DallasBlog.com (Click Here)

Gov. Perry's Trans-Texas Corridor could cut through Collin

3/10/2006

Attend Brewster McCracken's Amazing Independent Toll Road Review Scam on Wednesday

10:00 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2006,
TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT,
314 W. 11th Street, AUSTIN, TEXAS.

Latest news of Taxpayer Scam (Click here)

3/08/2006

Deadline to file to run against TOLLER Mayor Will Wynn and Brewster McCracken is Monday March 13th. Viable candidates: email Sal@TexasTollParty.com

Congrats to all our endorsed candidates!

VICTORY!

Thanks to YOU and your: votes, volunteerism, financial contributions, word-of-mouth, sharing flyers, direct mailers and emails with your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers, our grassroots network helped many of our champion candidates win last night!

MOST IMPORTANTLY...

****We Won the 1st Toller vs. NonToller race in Travis County!!!****

Congrats to Sarah Eckhardt who beat
Karen "Toll Road Queen" Sonleitner!
57% to 43%!
A real spankin!

We will FIRE more CAMPO Tollers in coming elections!

An early analysis of the early voting in Travis Precinct 2 proves we delivered a substantial percentage to this important Sarah Eckhardt victory. The final analysis of November's 2005 constitutional amendment election showed we delivered a staggering 20% of the vote in the counties we are strongest in!

The Austin American Statesman irresponsibly and blindly endorsed the freeway toll plan 2 years ago (without looking at ANY study), then they endorsed Sonleitner last week and today they called our group "those at the margins".

At the margins? Hell, we are the voters, the taxpayers, the 93% of the public feedback who opposed the tolls on roads we've already paid for - and we will not be ignored. It's too bad the AA Statesman is out of touch and not part of the checks and balances we need to fix our corrupt political system. We'll just keep firing and hiring at the voting booth!

Our other important endorsed victory's last night:

District 47:
Our Bill Welch (39%) will be in Primary Runoff against Castano (28%)!

District 50:
Our Don Zimmerman (44%) will be in Primary Runoff against Fleece (47%).

District 48:
Our Donna Howard, who we endorsed in December, won her special election!

****We Won the 1st Toller vs. NonToller race in San Antonio!!!****

District 73:
Our Nathan Macias beat toller incumbent Carter Casteel by 45 votes!

District 101 (Dallas area):
Our Tom Latham beat toller incumbent Elvira Reyna!

Statewide, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals:
Our Terry Keel will be in Primary Runoff against incumbent Holecomb!

Of special note: An unknown person by the name of Barbara Samuelson, with virtually NO money, who registered to run on the last day, in the last hour, went up against Transportation Committee Kingpin and freeway toller Mike Krusee. Barbara Samuelson received 36% of the vote! Barbara's fantastic grass roots run illustrates that Krusse, who sits on over $320,000 of special interest dollars (most of which is from out of town) is very, very vulnerable. Everyone on the Barbara Samueslon team, including our great friend Richard Reeves should be proud of what they accomplished! It's just a matter of time for Krusee to be removed from office.

NOW WHAT? We'll need everyone to vote in the upcoming primary runoff's, and help collect signatures to get our great next Governor, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, on the ballot!

4 BIG reasons why we endorse Strayhorn:

The People for Efficient Transportation
Endorses Carole Keeton Strayhorn!

4 BIG reasons March 8, 2006

Carole Strayhorn has been the ONLY State official to fight the corruption with us, down in the trenches.

Perry's secret deals turns half a million acres of private land into foreign profits - Perry MUST be stopped. Strayhorn is the only opposing candidate with the millions of dollars NEEDED to run TV spots to communicate with millions of Texans.

And, Strayhorn's done more than just make promises. She's already taken action, BIG action in four (4) very important ways:

• As one of three members of the Texas Bond Review Board, Strayhorn fought and was successful in keeping Perry's TxDOT from using our gas tax dollars as BLACKMAIL when it comes to Texas Mobility Funds (one Perry source of our tax dollars being diverted to toll roads).

• As TEXAS COMPTROLLER Carole Strayhorn’s produced a Special Investigation into one of Gov. Rick Perry's new bureaucratic Freeway Tolling Authorities (CTRMA) and found CORRUPT board members giving themselves and their friends NO BID contracts using our gas tax dollars. The Report described these activities as: “Double Taxation without Accountability” and “Favoritism and Self-Enrichment”

• Strayhorn is spending millions of her advertising dollars to tell other Texans about the Boondoggles we've been fighting: --- the privatization and tolling of our funded freeways and the TTC land grab.

• Strayhorn is pushing for I & R which will that would give the people means to influence and control large statewide issues.

Strayhorn is the only candidate with a common sense TTC alternative that will:

• PROTECT our private land.
• Stop secret deals.
• Stop land grab for foreign profits.
• Keep our roads Toll Free.

Strayhorn offers much more than one liners. Strayhorn is the ONLY candidate that has the needed millions to defeat Gov. "Special Interests" Perry. Any vote going to the third, fourth or fifth place candidate ensures Perry another term.

TOLL QUEEN SONLEITNER HIT HARD with Oversize Postcard and Corruption ads!

This 6.25 x 11.5 oversize postcard was sent to educate the voters about the truth since County Commish Karen Sonleitner had sent direct mailers to voters that she's been fighting for free roads. The truth is just the opposite.

We've waited since Summer of 2004 for one of the double tax tollers to go up for reelection. As you know, freeways have NEVER been shifted to tollways in the history of our country. Without any studies, Sonleitner took the lead to push the privatization and tolling of our public highways. She also fought any review of the radical plan to toll our public freeways.

The postcard drives home that Sonleitner has:

1) Voted to privatize and toll hundreds of millions of dollars worth of our public highways! (6/04 & 6/05)
2) Ignored 93% of the public feedback that opposed the toll plan. (6/04 & 6/05)
3) Raised County tax rates for ALL Travis County residents. (11/05)
4) And, after all that, Sonleitner gave herself a Pay Raise! (11/05)

Karen Sonleitner's push to toll our freeways will cost our families $1,000's of dollars a year. IT IS CRUCIAL that we all vote FOR Sarah Eckhardt and, therefore, FIRE Karen Sonleitner.

DOWNLOAD THE POSTCARD BY CLICKING HERE

3/07/2006

See Statesman page 4A today for our Sonleitner "Toll Road Queen" Ad.

Statesman Letter to Editor: BUSTED AGAIN!

I get a kick out of the rare letter to the editor that supports the tolls on roads we've already paid for. Here's the one from today in the Statesman:

Tolls get roads built

The only thing correct in the March 3 letter to the editor, "Tolls should be the issue of the election," was the statement that, "The large network of new and upgraded highways (is) rapidly nearing completion."

That's the key. A great deal of new capacity is about to open that was built in only a few years. I keep wondering if the people complaining about toll roads have only been in the area for a short time. Maybe they weren't here or don't remember how long it took to build U.S. 183 and Ben White Boulevard.

Unlike the distortions spread around the last few years such as "double taxation," the truth is the only roads that will be tolled here are new capacity. Everyone can choose whether to use the new roads.

GRAYSON PAYNTER
Austin

Grayson fails to mention that many of the roads have been under constrcution as free roads long before the toll plan came down the pike. And, how they are 100% fully funded with our tax dollars, and how if we stop the tolls they will open as free roads.

Grayson Paynter is a hired gun. He works for TateAustin, a PUBLIC RELATIONS FIRM who has a contract with the CTRMA. Here's his email address at the bottom of this Tate Austin Page. BUSTED!

Strayhorn says: "Get out and vote for anti-toll candidates!"

3/06/2006

Sonleitner Corruption Ad as printed with circulation of over 200,000 (Statesman, Daily Texan & Austin Chronicle (design by Sal Costello)

TOLL TAXES: Perry Policy must be re-examined

3/05/2006

Trans-Texas Corridor backers give $500,000 to defeat David Stall in the Republican primary

CLICK HERE TO SEE Sarah Eckhardt "Double Tax Toll Roads" TV Commercial

3/03/2006

CLICK HERE To See Don Zimmerman House 50 TV Commercial

Statesman: As printed as letter to editor today.

Tolls should be the issue of the election

The large network of new and upgraded highways rapidly nearing completion throughout the area look like toll roads on the outside, but actually are a permanent revenue stream more on par with a state income tax. This new toll tax will cost thousands per household per year. Never in the history of our country have public roads been given over to private companies. But it is happening right now in your backyard.

The election coming up Tuesday is our chance to throw out the toll taxers. Let's bring in candidates who have pledged to turn this monster around, especially Barbara Samuelson in Williamson County and Sarah Eckhardt in Travis, and statewide look for Steve Smith and Major Buck Werner.

For more information, go to www.TexasTollParty.com

JIM SMAJSTRLA
jim789us@yahoo.com
Round Rock

3/02/2006

DALLAS NEWS: Steve Smith (Our attorney and endorsed candidate) caught Willett forging books!

2/26/2006

We need your help to DUMP the Looters

We need your help in these areas ASAP, Early voting is taking place now, Election day is March 7th:
1) Toller KRUSEE VS. SAMUELSON: Call Richard to help from home or on the streets at 636-0869.
2) Toller SONLEITNER VS. ECKHARDT: Call Eddie today at 917-7557!
With a little help from YOU we can send a clear message and get these looters FIRED!

2/25/2006

NEWS 8 AUSTIN: Toll road issue overshadows race for precinct 2

2/24/2006

CTRMA "NO BID" contractor threatens to sue me. Click here and wait a few moments to see letter from lawyer. Stay Tuned! : )

CLICK HERE to see NO BID Owen Consulting contract at bottom of page 4 of Comptroller Report Appendix 5.

BREAKING NEWS

GREAT PROGRESS WITH OUR LAWSUIT
AGAINST TOLLER GOV. PERRY!

People for Efficient Transportation vs.
Governor Rick Perry,
TxDOT, CAMPO & SAMPO

Our attorney, former Supreme Court Justice, Steve Smith, one of our endorsed champions in the Republican Primary, has done a stellar job fighting for accountability and our Texas families!

AUSTIN, TX - The defendants (Gov. Perry, TxDOT, CAMPO & SAMPO) filed pleas to the jurisdiction requesting that the lawsuit be dismissed. A hearing was held and the district court denied the defendants' request that the case be dismissed.

The Governor argued that the suit should be dismissed because of sovereign immunity: "Specifically, the Governor clearly has statutory authority under the Federal Act to make the Section 134 Designations. Consequently, the Governor enjoys immunity to any [declaratory judgment] challenge to the Section 134 Designations." The district court disagreed, finding that federal law does not empower the Governor to create MPOs. The resolution of one of the major issues in this case was therefore decided in favor of the plaintiffs, People for Efficient Transportation Inc. (PET).

TxDOT, CAMPO, & SAMPO argued that the suit should be dismissed because of the statute of limitations: "More than four years have expired since the Governor and TxDOT adopted rules with regard to MPOs and since CAMPO and SA-Bexar MPO were created. As a result, Plaintiff's declaratory judgment action is barred by limitations." The district court also rejected this argument, finding that the applicable limitations period began when members of PET members were injured, not when the MPOs were originally created. Since that was within the last two years, the suit is not barred by the statute of limitations.

All defendants argued that the plaintiff lacks standing to sue on behalf of its members. PET did not make any specific factual allegations regarding the issue of standing in its original petition. Under applicable rules of civil procedure, the district court required that PET amend its original petition within 30 days to add the necessary factual allegations regarding its standing to sue on behalf of its members. After amendment, the defendants may again raise the standing issue either by summary judgment or at trial.

Our suit began on 10/05/05. In the suit, People for Efficient Transportation, the plaintiff, makes the following legal allegations:

(1) Neither the governor nor the Texas Department of Transportation has authority under Texas law to create special districts like CAMPO and SAMPO;

(2) Legislators serving on the CAMPO and SAMPO boards violate the separation of powers provision of the Texas Constitution; and

(3) neither CAMPO nor SAMPO have authority under Texas law to appropriate the tens of millions of dollars they spend each year.

Steve Smith continues to work pro bono to fight for ACCOUNTABILITY.

2/23/2006

STRAYHORN PRESS RELEASE: "Whether it is a foreign company running our roads or operating our ports, it's wrong." (click here to read)

2/22/2006

NEWS 8 AUSTIN: Krusee & TxDOT break "No free roads replaced with toll roads" promise again.

STATESMAN: Round Rock residents protest free ramp closures (as tolls move in)

Apple Pie, Baseball and the Working Mom.

In yesterday's San Antonio Express, the editors printed 5 letters to the editors. 1 of the 5 was pro-toll and from a "working mom". Here it is:

Give drivers a choice

I agree with Joe Krier's comment in support of tolls. This is about defining our quality of life as this city continues to grow. By 2030, the estimated population will be 2.4 million in San Antonio.

As a working mom, I want the choice of paying a toll to get out of traffic, get to work faster, pick up my kids, run errands and get home to spend more time with my family. Nobody wants to pay tolls, but the alternatives stink! Traffic congestion, gridlock, increased gas taxes and long waits to get home.

As a business owner, I also need the choice to pay tolls to avoid congestion, which will allow my company to continue to operate efficiently and provide responsive and reliable service and high-paying local jobs. There are no other alternatives to solve our transportation funding shortage.

— Brenda Vickrey Johnson

Come to find out, Brenda Vickery Johnson is the president of Vickery & Associates. Vickery & Associates is a TxDOT contractor, and Ms. Johnson is on the board of the greater chamber and SAMCO. I doubt that many other "working moms" are for tolls. Here are a couple of Brenda Johnson's recent contracts.

Contract Number: 15-6XXP1019
Contract Amount: $900,000
Awarded to: Vickery & Associates, Inc.

Contract Number: 15-548P5012
Contract Amount: $165,000
Awarded to: Vickery & Associates, Inc.

Say hello to the mother: brenda.johnson@vickreynet.com

PET PAC ENDORSEMENTS

2006 ACCOUNTABILITY ENDORSEMENT LIST FOR
PEOPLE FOR EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION PAC
(AustinTollParty.com & TexasTollParty.com)

If you live in TRAVIS County Precinct 2 or Precinct 4, or BEXAR County Precinct 2, VOTE in the Democratic Primary (Travis County Precinct map at the bottom of this email and at this link http://www.texastollparty.com/documents/Travis.jpg):

Travis County Commissioner:
Precinct 2: VOTE Sarah Eckhardt*
Sarah Eckhardt is a former prosecutor, ready to fight for accountability and oppose Special Interest Candidate Karen Sonleitner. Sonleitner has 1) Voted to privatize and toll hundreds of millions of dollars worth of our public highways - as a member of CAMPO. Double Taxation 2) Ignored 93% of the public feedback that opposed the toll plan. 3) Raised County Taxes for all Travis County residents. 4) And, after all that, Sonleitner gave herself a Pay Raise!
Precinct 4: Yolanda Montemayor

Bexar County Commissioner:
Precinct 2: Enrique Barrera
A vote for Barrera will give us a majority on the commissioner's court!

All other areas of Texas, VOTE in the Republican Primary:

Texas House of Representatives:
District 47: Bill Welch
District 50: Don Zimmerman
District 52: Barbara Samuelson*
Barbara Samuelson is opposing Mike Krusee in this important Williamson County race. Mike Krusee created the new freeway toll tax, TTC land grab schemes and unaccountable bureaucracies that will cost our Texas families $1,000’s of dollars more a year. As a member of CAMPO, Krusee also voted to privatize and toll hundreds of millions of dollars worth of our Central Texas public highways after ignoring 93% of the public feedback that opposed the toll plan.
District 73: Nathan Macias*
Nathan Macias is opposing Carter Casteel. Casteel backed up Krusee as a Transportation Committee member to help create the new freeway toll tax and TTC land grab schemes.
District 83: Frank Morrison
District 87: Annette Carlisle
District 101: Tom Latham
District 4: Gent Wade

Texas Supreme Court:
Place 2: Steve Smith*
Former Supreme Court Justice Steve Smith is our PET Inc. Attorney who is suing Gov. Rick Perry on the behalf of Texans, to fight double tax tolls and the TTC. He's done months of work Pro Bono! The person who is opposing Steve Smith in this Primary is a special interest funded Gov. Perry appointee that had NO experience before Perry appointed him.

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals:
Terry Keel
As State Representative, Terry Keel's independence caused him to be the first elected person in Texas to call freeway tolls "a double tax". In 2004, Terry Keel asked the State Comptroller, Carol Keeton Strayhorn to investigate the first Freeway Tolling Authority in Texas for using gas tax dollars to create freeway tolls. Read the 2005 Comptroller Report that shows "Double Taxation Without Accountability" and "Favoritism And Self-Enrichment": http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/ctrma05/

Texas State Railroad Commissioner:
Major Buck Werner

Texas State Senate:
District 3: Bob Reeves
District 18: David Stall
David Stall is cofounder of CorridorWatch.org. David is a true Texas patriot that has dedicated years of his life educating citizens and elected officials about the truths of the Special Interest Trans Texas Corridor. David Stall is selfless and devoted to Texans.

Collin County Commissioner:
County Judge: Rick Neudorff
Precinct 4: Jeran Akers

Both the Democrat and the Republican Parties have failed to represent us. Special interests, who fund toller campaigns, are being allowed to toll and profit from public highways we've already paid for, and the TTC is taking our land After reviewing and comparing PET PAC's comprehensive questionnaires from candidates and past voting records, our crosspartisan volunteers have endorsed the following Independent Democrat and Independent Republican champions.

IMPORTANT: This is a strategic plan to replace special interest politicians. This strategy includes voting in the primary of any party to stop the looting. We can no longer vote along party lines. We must shop the ballot to de-elect the looters and elect the better candidate. The Strayhorn campaign urges everyone to vote in the very low turnout Primaries where our votes really count. Strayhorn campaign has the money to get all the signatures she needs. Strayhorn is the ONLY candidate that has the millions needed to beat Rick "Toller" Perry AND her campaign is gaining momentum: http://salcostello.blogspot.com/2006/02/strayhorn-gets-big-mo.html Strayhorn has also found Perry's freeway tolls to be Double Taxation and has been fighting with us for almost 2 years!: http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/ctrma05/

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2/21/2006

Proof that Gov. Perry's TxDOT doesn't know their own toll plans.

Dialog between TxDOT's biggest boss, Ric Williamson and myself proves TxDOT doesn't know it's own plans (the following is a transcript of TxDOT Commission Meeting from 10/28/04)

MR. WILLIAMSON: We have the dilemma of having to provide infrastructure for that growth in the fashion that the governor and the legislature has given us. It was the governor's view that if we were to have to go down this path, the wisest course of action was to place the financial benefit of doing this at the taxpayer level of those who were going to pay for it. So we created the structure of the RMA and toll equity so that if you choose to pay a toll, every time you pay a toll in Central Texas, that dollar is staying in Central Texas.

MR. COSTELLO: THAT IS NOT TRUE. The dollar that somebody pays at a toll booth, a portion of that, a large portion of that, about 45 percent of that dollar goes to collecting that dollar. That is what happens with the tolling idea. It is a sloppy, inefficient, additional tax, that's what it is.

MR. WILLIAMSON: Why don't we stop for a second. Is anyone here with expertise that can speak to that? Phil? Because if Mr. Costello believes that 45 percent of our gross revenue goes to collecting the toll, then if he's right, then we need to be doing something real fast.

MR. POWELL: I can't tell you exactly what the percentage is right now.

MR. BEHRENS: State your name for the record.

MR. POWELL: I'm David Powell, director of Information Technology and Operations for the Turnpike Authority Division. I don't have an exact percentage as to what that is. I know on the total project budget there's something like 5 percent for toll collection systems, and the operations the per transaction cost can be somewhere around a quarter apiece. A lot of that is labor to collect the transaction which people locally employed is a high component of that cost.

MR. WILLIAMSON: I thought that our system or any system we invested in also envisioned electronic tolls only, no coin collections. Is that not the case?

MR. POWELL: Absolutely, yes, and electronic toll collection is much less expensive.

MR. WILLIAMSON: I'm sorry, Mr. Costello.

MR. COSTELLO: Also, what was proposed to CAMPO when they voted that this would be an all-electronic plan, but when you add toll booths -- which now they're talking about collecting cash as well, you're slowing down traffic, we're talking about bottlenecks all over Austin. How does that help mobility? And again, we want to see a study.

MR. WILLIAMSON: Well, Mr. Costello, I can tell you that this commission has made it very clear publicly we will not invest the state's equity in any toll plan that is not 100% electronic. We're not going to be in the toll booth business

MR. COSTELLO: Well, I suggest you look at the CTRMA's website because they are backing off the electronic route only on their website and even in recent papers, The Houston Chronicle yesterday talked about the problems with all-electronic. These tollways that were all-electronic, they're having major problems with them.

MR. WILLIAMSON: Well, major problems from one person's perspective. We view the very objection you have to the traffic backup for coin boxes as being more of a problem than whatever problems are occurring electronically, and I will just tell you -- in fact, if you care to stay till probably about six o'clock tonight, we're going to have a discussion about interoperability of tolls, and we will repeat our toll master down there what we've said to him ten times: no booths; we are not in the toll booth business, we're in the electronic toll business, that's all we're in.

After TxDOT promises NOT to be in the toll booth business, I find TxDOT documents showing dozens of toll booths for Central Texas. The diagram below shows how the toll booths hold TOILET's. Doesn't look 100% electronic does it?

2/19/2006

SA EXPRESS: Gov. Perry's Ric Williamson is responsible for gas tax diversions!

2/18/2006

Our endorsed Steve Smith gets endorsed by Star Telegram! (Click here to read)

PET PAC endorses Steve Smith for Texas Supreme Court: Former Supreme Court Justice Steve Smith is our PET Inc. Attorney who is suing Gov. Rick Perry on the behalf of Texans, to fight double tax tolls and the TTC. He's done months of work Pro Bono! The person who is opposing Steve Smith in this Primary is a special interest funded Gov. Perry appointee that had NO experience before Perry appointed him.

2/17/2006

UPDATED: TxDOT COVER-UP: Documents show 130 and other Turnpike Materials Failing

TTC Corruption:
Unsafe at any speed.

At $1.5 Billion dollars, the 130 turnpike is the largest transportation project in Texas.

Documents just revealed by an inside source, show the primer for Gov. Perry's TTC, Turnpike 130, east of Austin, and other toll roads being built around Texas, have FAILED numerous “Dry Density” tests. Documents from inspectors show this amount of failure is causing a loss in concrete integrity by 5 to 8% within the first few months of being poured, and inspector charts show they will continue to decay rapidly. I've seen the documents myself. Part of Jack Blood's report states:

"What the documents prove so far, is that:

The Crushed Limestone used to make the concrete of which the roads are to be built with is weak. This has lead to a total failure of most of the structures, and superstructures currently standing as our future Trans Texas Corridor. Translation: These roads will fall apart long before they are paid for, and could take innocent drivers with them. This has apparently been covered up not only by TXDOT and their contractors, but is being certified out the door by the very contractors there to make sure we never get to this point.

Charts done by my source and other inspectors show that the standing infrastructure is failing right from the beginning. “Decantation tests.” A 5.1 – 8% loss in concrete integrity over just the last few months. This seems to be caused by the initial testing, or lack of testing, of the Sieve quality. (Sieve refers to the rock that makes up the concrete.) In fact my source told me that he was told to inspect around the #4 Sieve (The bigger rocks) because they would not pass, and therefore not be usable in the project. He would eliminate them from the test, but they are used in the end product. He also said that it wouldn’t matter if the test failed anyway, and the testing itself is just a formality. The sieve goes out before the tests are even done, and subsequently used on the roads. No matter how bad it is, it’s just too late. Can you imagine what this concrete will look like in a few years when the job is completed? If it is completed.

In documents reflecting the number of tests needed for August – October 2005, we found that on the SH 130 Turnpike project alone, the tests performed versus the tests REQUIRED by law were far less than required. It seems like TXDOT doesn’t care, and I suspect that they are confident that they wouldn’t get caught. So much for that now.

Tests on the concrete failed consistently on: The Hanson aggregate freeways, the Burnett Grade 2 aggregate, the RTI Georgetown aggregate, Capitol Bolm Road, the Travis aggregate, TXI Green Plant, and the SH 130 Turnpike in general. Nothing was ever done to comply with these tests, and again inspectors were told to shut up about it, or else. So now they are not just under testing the grade, but also covering up failed tests."

“Dry Density tests” are soil tests to make sure that the soil under the freeway structure isn’t “Quick sand”. On the charts we have in our possession, the curve shows that the Dry Density Test met with a maximum percentage of 126.27. I am told that it needs to be closer to 270.00. The inspectors will again “#2 Stamp” the approval and move on, with the soil test coming in under 50%.

Read Jack Bloods complete report
"TEXAS TOLL ROADS COULD COLLAPSE BEFORE THEY ARE PAID FOR".

Freeway Toll Roads Create 'Second Class Citizens'

Who would Jesus Double Tax?

Most people, including myself, have no objection to traditional tollroads, where toll revenues on Turnpike A are tied to the investor financed Turnpike A, and Turnpike A is designed and built as an ALTERNATIVE to our public expressways.

Traditional tolls in this country have NEVER shifted existing highways to tollways. Tollers permanently take our public expressways from us, after they make us pay for the right of way and construction of the road.

Texas elected thieves, fools with a toll road fetish like Mayor Will Wynn, Brewster McCracken, Mark Strama & Gov. Perry, want to place tolls on roads we've already paid for. By doing this unaccountable theft, tollers produce "Freeway Tolls".

Who would Jesus Freeway Toll?

2/16/2006

Tolls, Bureaucracy, Judge Orders and MORE waste

Homemade Signs Go Up to Replace Krusee with Barbara Samuelson.

McKinney Courier-Gazette: TOLL CDA's "It's a money-grab" "it's all done in secret"

2/15/2006

As printed in the Statesman Today

Strama & McCracken, who both voted to toll roads
we've already paid for, are seen here.

AS PRINTED IN THE AAS TODAY:

Toll numbers inflated

Austin City Council Member Brewster McCracken's tax-funded review of Austin's "freeway tolls" has been hijacked by tollers. The pro-toll committee is allowing the toll authority to hire a company to fluff traffic forecast numbers.

That company, URS Corp., has a magnificent record of failed tollways and inflated traffic forecasts. URS has inaccurately forecasted nearly a half-dozen failed projects in Florida. One of those, the Suncoast Parkway, was projected for $70 million in year one. It produced $7 million.

The failed Camino Colombia tollway promised to be a "generator of regional economic activity." URS forecasted $9 million for year one — but it produced $500,000, which was 6 percent of the URS forecast.

We can only memorize the names on the toll committee: McCracken, state Rep. Mike Krusee, state Rep. Mark Strama, Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, Austin City Council Member Betty Dunkerley and fire them in upcoming elections for a sham "review."

SAL COSTELLO
Founder of People for Efficient Transportation
imacsal@aol.com

-------------
What the Statesman cut out and other details:

Forbes, in 9/3/01 put it best, "It has become painfully clear to bondholders and politicians that many of the public toll-supported projects built in the past decade, the majority blessed by URS and its ilk, have become financial albatrosses."

Standard and Poor's bond analysts, after reviewing forecasting case studies for years, have concluded "Optimism bias remains a consistent feature of toll road traffic forecasting."

Read the expanded version here.

2/14/2006

HOWARD WINS WITH 57.6 PERCENT OF VOTE IN HD 48 SPECIAL ELECTION!

Call AG Greg Abbott at (800) 252-8011 and tell him it's his constitutional duty to investigate Rick Perry’s Freeway Toll & TTC schemes.

SA EXPRESS: Some Trans Texas Corridor details are being kept very quiet.

2/13/2006

STRAYHORN GETS THE BIG MO!

STRAYHORN GETS
THE BIG MO!

One month and Strayhorn's $1 million dollars on media moved her up 10 points in the Rasmussen Poll! Gov. Perry spends $2 million plus and his unfavorables go up 8 points with his favorables dropping 8 points! Strayhorn has got the big momentum.

TEXAS SURVEY of 500 likely voters
www.rasmussenreports.com (Independent poll)
Monday, February 6, 2006

40% Perry (no movement from 1/5/06 poll)
31% Strayhorn (a 10% increase from 1/5/06!!!)
13% Bell (1% decrease from 1/5/06 poll)
9% Friedman (3% decrease from 1/5/06 poll)

Perry
Favorable 53% (8% drop from 1 month ago)
Unfavorable 45% (8% gain from 1 month ago)

Strayhorn
Favorable 55% (4% gain)
Unfavorable 31% (no change)

Bell
Favorable 33% (2% gain)
Unfavorable 36% (1% gain)

Friedman
28% (3% drop)
40% (6% gain)

SA EXPRESS: Are toll roads really about traffic, or big contracts? (READ THIS ARTICLE! CLICK HERE)

CORRUPTION AD HITS KRU$EE HARD!!! You can help turn up the heat!

The Krusee Corruption Ad that hit this weekend is sure to be the topic of conversation at water coolers across Williamson County today! The ad is running/has run in four newspapers, including yesterdays WilCo Sunday Statesman with a total circulation of over 100,000+!!!!

SEE THE AD (CLOSE-UP) HERE:
http://www.texastollparty.com/documents/AAS.pdf

RARE OPPORTUNITY TO FIRE KRU$EE!
The "Krusee Corruption Campaign" presents a rare, but HUGE opportunity for us to further educating voters about Krusee's new tax, toll & debt schemes. The very low turnout Republican Primary election, is a rare opportunity to FIRE Mike Krusee. The last nonpresidential District 52 Republican Primary had only 11,000 voters! This is OUR BEST CHANCE to give Mike Krusee the boot!

ALL TEXANS BENEFIT FROM REMOVING KRU$EE
Krusee is the creator of corrupt legislation that STEALS our land and our Texas roads. He created the double tax Freeway Tolls, the Trans Texas Corridor land grab, and all the unaccountable layers of bureaucracy that come along with his special interest corporate welfare. Dumping Krusee would send a message to ALL politicians -- that we CAN and WILL FIRE any looter that fails to represent the people! A Krusee defeat will draw statewide attention from the media to our David vs.Goliath victory-- their coverage will tell our "no tolls" story to hundreds of thousands of Texans!!!

BARBARA SAMUELSON IS READY TO FIGHT FOR TEXANS!
Barbara Samuelson stands for fiscal responsibility, smaller, accountable open government, streamlining education costs, and opposes Krusee's tax, toll and debt schemes. Your contributions can help DUMP Krusee and replace him with a common sense citizen who will fight to stop double tax tolls and the TTC! Learn more about Barbara Samuelson and her family at www.VoteBarbara.com

Contribute $100 NOW to help FIRE Mike Krusee --
in an effort to save all Texas families
$1,000's of dollars a year!

We need to raise $5,000 in the next THREE DAYS!
to continue our "Krusee Corruption Campaign".

If Krusee wins, ALL TEXANS LOSE! Please send whatever you can ASAP.

Contribute with a credit card online now!
http://www.texastollparty.com/store_donate.php

Send a contribution via check today!
People for Efficient Transportation PAC (Dump Krusee Fund)
PO Box 90715
Austin, TX 78709

2/12/2006

SA EXPRESS: TxDOT slows down traffic with timing of lights (after lawsuit)

2/11/2006

Everybody is an enemy of the state; a scofflaw, a toll cheat

2/10/2006

BIG news here in the next couple days!

DAILY TEXAN: Bentzin's campaign could be held responsible for knowingly accepting illegal contributions

Favoritism, Self-Enrichment, Love and OUR MONEY!

2/10/06
karen.sonleitner@co.travis.tx.us
Dear Travis County Commissioner Karen Sonleitner,

A number of reliable sources, over the past year or so, have told me that you and Mike Heiligenstein, executive Director of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) had an intimate relationship for some time. I frankly don't care who our representatives date, or if they are married or not. It's none of my business. BUT, I'm very concerned when my tax dollars are involved and when a group of folks are crafting a way to double tax citizens, create new layers of unaccountable quasi government and privatize and toll our public freeways.

In 2003 Mike Heiligenstein was a Williamson County Commissioner and he voted for the formation of CTRMA. He also voted for appointments of four (4) of the CTRMA board members. Those CTRMA board members then thanked Heiligenstein by giving him the CTRMA top position at $120,000+ per year. The "circle" is well documented in the report below, as CTRMA board members have given NO BID contracts to themselves and their friends.

Records show that you sent emails to other Travis County Commissioners to push and rush a tax give away to the CTRMA. In June 2003, you and the other Commissioners voted to give $250,000 of our tax dollars to the CTRMA and on October 16, 2003, another $300,000 of our tax dollars was given to the CTRMA.

Your campaign financial reports also show the same special interests who profits from the double tax, funds your campaign.

“Favoritism and Self-Enrichment”
“Double Taxation without Accountability”
– TEXAS COMPTROLLER's March 2005 Special Investigation
into the Freeway Tolling Authority (CTRMA)
http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/ctrma05/

As a taxpayer I ask that you please disclose when you dated Mike Heiligenstein, since hundreds of millions of dollars worth of the publics roads and tax dollars are involved in this freeway boondoggle.

A Concerned Citizen,
Sal Costello

UPDATE: Mike Heiligenstein
sends me an email, then we have a dialog.
Click on the "comments" area to read it.

"Enron, Abramoff, and the Trans-Texas Corridor. Big money, big manipulations, and big mistakes."

2/08/2006

Smile! You're on Toller Camera!

Our Endorsed candidate in Dist 47 puts his money where his mouth is with Oak Hill at the "Y" Billboard!

Our active volunteers unanimously endorsed Bill Welch for State Rep in Dist 47. Our complete endorsement list will be coming out very soon. Read about our Bill Welch endorsement HERE.

STATESMAN: Big crowd drawn to freeway toll hearing (Great Photo Gallery! Click here!)

2/07/2006

Carter Casteel lies about voting to toll existing freeways at candidate forum

Supreme Court Justice FOR THE PEOPLE, Steve Smith, in David vs. Goliath Race.

Steve Smith, a former Texas Supreme Court Justice, and attorney for People for Efficient Transportation Inc, in the PET Inc lawsuit vs. Gov. Perry, TxDOT and MPO's, is running for Place 2 on the Court against Governor Perry's appointee Don Willett.

Steve Smith is president and general council for Texas Legal Foundation, and has produced months of hard work PRO-BONO to take a stand for accountability, fiscal responsibility and good government for ALL Texans

In the PET vs. Gov, Perry suit, People for Efficient Transportation, the plaintiff, makes the following legal allegations: (1) Neither the governor nor the Texas Department of Transportation has authority under Texas law to create special districts like CAMPO and SAMPO; (2) Legislators serving on the CAMPO and SAMPO boards violate the separation of powers provision of the Texas Constitution; and (3) neither CAMPO nor SAMPO have authority under Texas law to appropriate the tens of millions of dollars they spend each year.

Inexperienced Perry Appointee Receiving High-Dollar Contributions

From a financial standpoint, the Republican primary race for Place 2 on the Texas Supreme Court is shaping up as a classic bout between David and Goliath. Campaign finance reports show that incumbent Justice Don Willett collected $434,726 in contributions during the last half of 2005, while former Supreme Court Justice Steve Smith represents ordinary Texans who don't ordinarily (can't afford to) contribute to political campaigns. Rather than accept campaign contributions from special interest groups, Smith made a strategic decision to self-finance a modest but aggressive campaign.

Before his appointment, Willett had no judicial experience, had never argued an appeal, and had never tried a case in the trial court. Since joining the Court, he has authored no opinions. Because the Court is substantially behind on its workload, now is an especially bad time to appoint someone like Willett who lacks the experience necessary to be a productive justice.

Smith is running on his record of achievement at the Texas Supreme Court. While on the Court, Smith authored sixteen published opinions, including the Court's landmark decision in Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services v. Mega Child Care.

Vote Steve Smith in the Republican Primary!
http://www.smithforsupremecourt.com

Email Sal@TexasTollParty.com to get our complete Statewide list of People for Efficient Transportation PAC endorsed candidates that will be released soon. Vote for accountability, fiscal responsibility and good government. Stop the bureaucratic privatization and toll taxing of our public highways and the land grabbing TTC. Vote PET PAC endorsed candidates.