Election Drama Unfolds in Austin as Ethics Violations Stir Controversy

Election Drama Unfolds in Austin as Ethics Violations Stir Controversy

As Austin prepares for the grand finale of its election season this Saturday, the spotlight isn’t just on the runoff in the District 7 City Council race; it’s also shining brightly on the ongoing antics of the Ethics Review Commission. Even though the polls are closing soon, the commission is knee-deep in handling a stack of complaints that have emerged throughout this contentious election cycle.

What’s the Scoop on the Complaints?

So far, the commission has waved off two complaints but has decided to move forward with final hearings on two others. Tensions flared at the most recent commission meeting on Thursday when a motion put forth by Luis Figueroa aimed at finding Mayor Kirk Watson‘s reelection campaign guilty for allegedly exceeding contribution limits from donors outside of Austin was shot down. Figueroa stood alone in support, while other commissioners like Brian McGiverin, Nguyen Stanton-Adams, Mary Kahle, and Amy Casto voted against it. William Ross Pumfrey decided to sit this one out and abstained from voting.

It’s worth noting that only those who attended the previous hearing on November 13 were allowed to vote, meaning that Ed Espinoza, a Watson appointee, had to recuse himself from this decision.

The Dismissal of Greco’s Complaint

In another twist, on December 5, the commission dismissed a similar complaint aimed at Doug Greco, another mayoral candidate whose financial contributions were being scrutinized. The complaint was filed by Betsy Greenberg, a former member of the ethics commission. However, she later decided to withdraw her allegations against Greco.

Greco, who tried to challenge the city’s contribution limit rules in court, expressed his gratitude after the complaint was dropped. He stated, “As I had initially promised, we sequestered and did not spend the money pending the federal lawsuit that I initiated.” He went on to emphasize his team’s commitment to ethics by returning over $8,000 in donations as they awaited judicial ruling.

Late Filings? Not on Their Watch!

Now, let’s get back to the latest session where the focus turned to the preliminary hearings for two candidates accused of filing their personal financial statements late. Incoming District 10 Council Member Marc Duchen swung the gavel against his opponent Ashika Ganguly, claiming she was tardy in sharing her financial information— a requirement for all candidates.

Meanwhile, outgoing District 6 Council Member Mackenzie Kelly went after newly-elected Krista Laine for the same reason. Neither Ganguly nor Laine bothered to show up for this hearing, which raised eyebrows.

Austin attorney Bill Aleshire, who represented both complainants, didn’t hold back. He pressed the commission to seriously consider the ramifications of these *late filings*, noting that they’ve become far too common in recent years. “It is our duty,” he exclaimed, “to decide whether or not you’re going to take these violations seriously.” He urged the commission to refer the matter to the city attorney’s office for possible prosecution, emphasizing the legal severity of these late submissions.

What’s Next for the Commission?

With a unanimous vote, the commission decided to escalate both cases to final hearings scheduled for January 22. It’s important to highlight that Kahle took herself out of Duchen’s complaint, while Chair Michael Lovins excused himself from the conversation regarding Kelly.

As the city anticipates the upcoming runoff and gears up for the final ruling on these ethical matters, one thing is for sure: Austin’s political landscape is as dynamic as ever. And who knows? The outcome of these hearings could very well ripple through the city’s future elections.

Stay tuned as we will continue to keep an eye on this evolving story; between the election buzz and ethics scrutiny, there’s never a dull moment in Austin!