Woodlands Villager - News
TEC complaint filed against Comm. Chance
By T.L. HAMILTON
A Woodlands resident claims Montgomery County Commissioner Ed Chance converted political contributions to personal use and accepted a contribution from a corporation in violation of the election code.
Joe Merrill filed his complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission Oct. 20. He did not name the corporation.
Merrill also alleged Chance, who oversees Precinct 3, did not disclose information properly on his reports, including further information on an unnamed political action committee.
Chance, however, said the contribution and expenditures were legitimate, and he is angered by the number of TEC complaints he said Merrill and other residents continually file against him and other local officials.
He also said one total had been added incorrectly, and some ZIP codes were left off some addresses. He said he sent corrected forms to the TEC in a timely manner.
The complaint arose from Chance’s January 2007, July 2007 and January 2008 semiannual campaign finance reports.
Items Merrill alleges Chance bought with campaign funds include a shed, golf cart, computer, printer, desk chair, fish fryer, antenna and a cooker.
“I believe he purchased the items with contributions since his campaign finance report states (the items) as expenditures,” Merrill said.
Merrill rescinded an earlier complaint on the issue Aug. 12 before re-filing.
“Mr. Chance has been commissioner for a long time and has been investigated by the Texas Ethics Commission in the past, so he knows the rules,” Merrill said. “He had plenty of time to correct the issues by the time I re-sent the complaint.”
Chance said he has “no respect” for Merrill, and “He files out of hatred.”
“He’s part of a group . . . that keeps filing these complaints, and I think it’s ludicrous,” Chance said. “It bothers me that it takes time and money to address these complaints.”
On April 3, Montgomery County District Attorney Michael McDougal was fined $500 after Merrill claimed McDougal failed to file certain campaign finance reports, accusing him of having inconsistencies. The TEC also issued an order in January against Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, requiring him to pay a fine for clerical errors made on a report, after Merrill filed a complaint.
Joe Merrill filed his complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission Oct. 20. He did not name the corporation.
Merrill also alleged Chance, who oversees Precinct 3, did not disclose information properly on his reports, including further information on an unnamed political action committee.
Chance, however, said the contribution and expenditures were legitimate, and he is angered by the number of TEC complaints he said Merrill and other residents continually file against him and other local officials.
He also said one total had been added incorrectly, and some ZIP codes were left off some addresses. He said he sent corrected forms to the TEC in a timely manner.
The complaint arose from Chance’s January 2007, July 2007 and January 2008 semiannual campaign finance reports.
Items Merrill alleges Chance bought with campaign funds include a shed, golf cart, computer, printer, desk chair, fish fryer, antenna and a cooker.
“I believe he purchased the items with contributions since his campaign finance report states (the items) as expenditures,” Merrill said.
Merrill rescinded an earlier complaint on the issue Aug. 12 before re-filing.
“Mr. Chance has been commissioner for a long time and has been investigated by the Texas Ethics Commission in the past, so he knows the rules,” Merrill said. “He had plenty of time to correct the issues by the time I re-sent the complaint.”
Chance said he has “no respect” for Merrill, and “He files out of hatred.”
“He’s part of a group . . . that keeps filing these complaints, and I think it’s ludicrous,” Chance said. “It bothers me that it takes time and money to address these complaints.”
On April 3, Montgomery County District Attorney Michael McDougal was fined $500 after Merrill claimed McDougal failed to file certain campaign finance reports, accusing him of having inconsistencies. The TEC also issued an order in January against Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, requiring him to pay a fine for clerical errors made on a report, after Merrill filed a complaint.
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