HOUSTON – In the aftermath of Houston Mayor John Whitmire calling out the City Controller Chris Hollins over alleged “pay to play” conflicts for an upcoming conference, KPRC 2 is looking into whether the city’s Ethics Committee will investigate the accusations.
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The mayor suggests Hollins planned to solicit funds at an upcoming investor’s conference on October 22.
In a sponsorship package featured on the City of Houston’s website, the investor’s conference offers access to networking opportunities. Those who donate up to $100K can have a “private dinner with Controller and other special guests at Investor Conference (or equivalent major event of sponsor’s choice).”
“It needs to stop,” Whitmire said during a news conference Thursday. “I can’t believe no one in the Controller’s office didn’t say ‘no.’”
Hollins then shared his side of the story in a separate news conference hours later, saying the mayor’s claims were inaccurate and overblown. The city controller also jabbed back the mayor saying he had to deflect from his own shortcomings.
“The mayor is wasting all of your time today,” Hollins said. “He owes you an apology for this. This is a huge nothing-burger that is meant to distract from the mayor’s failed leadership on fiscal responsibility as a city.”
Hollins added that he is not doing anything that the city’s previous controllers didn’t also participate in.
KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun reached out to the city’s Ethics Committee for their response to the allegations made over the city’s chief financial officer. In an emailed statement, Ethics Committee Chair Joaquin Martinez shared the following response:
“Elected officials - no matter the office they hold - must always hold themselves to the highest professional and ethical standards. They have been elected by citizens and entrusted with the public office they hold. While I have not been briefed on the specifics around the allegations raised yesterday, any substantiated misconduct or violation of the public trust should be reviewed and investigated appropriately.”
Rilwan will have more on this story in a LIVE report later today and this story will be updated with additional information as this story develops.
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