HOUSTON – Less than 24 after KPRC 2 Investigates exposed whether the Houston Independent School District (HISD) did everything by the book regarding last November’s $2 billion bond, one Texas State Senator already is saying that he believes state law was broken.
“I think that’s electioneering,” said State Senator Mayes Middleton.
SEE OUR FIRST REPORT: Houston ISD approved $2M to campaign for the massive failed bond. Was it legal?
The Republican senator did not pull punches about a line item on page 47 of HISD’s Adopted Budget Book, labeled, “Key Action #2.” The $2 million initiative is to “Ask voters for a bond election in November 2024”.
The district indicated the reason behind the seven-figure price tag is due to “cost related to putting the plan together and hiring a consulting group to support,” which according to Middleton, “is something that should not be happening with taxpayer dollars.”
A search of HISD’s vendor system by KPRC 2 Investigates found nearly $1.4 million went to Houston-based Outreach Strategists, a communications firm specializing in governmental relations, initiatives and campaigns.
The Texas election code is clear, advocating for passage or defeat of a political measure is not allowed. Anyone breaking the law can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and/or up to a $4,000 fine according to legal experts.
RENEW HISD MESSAGING AND POTENTIAL INVESTIGATION
At the end of the videos KPRC 2 Investigates uncovered on HISD’s social media pages, were the words “RENEW HISD”.
The messaging is troubling to some.
“If I was investigating this, what I would want to know is: are there internal communications?‘” former U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick said. “Or is there somebody on the inside willing to say, ‘We saw some internal numbers, things weren’t moving well, we need to juice the language a little bit, we need something like renew.”
Patrick went on to provide further insight on the messaging and what it can potentially lead to.
“Maybe that doesn’t cross the line, but it sure sounds positive and those are the kind of things that can get government agencies in trouble,” he added.
Whether or not HISD is in legal trouble is a question that truly only one party can identify according to Middleton. Which is why a Houston-area senator views our reporting as a litmus test for Harris County’s new District Attorney.
“Well, they need to look at that. I mean, they need to do an investigation, for sure, to see if there was any illegal electioneering occurred,” Middleton said.
