No, Keller’s city website can’t campaign for Greg Abbott. It’s wrong — and illegal
Keller used its taxpayer-funded city website to promote a Republican Club campaign rally for Gov. Greg Abbott.
That’s not good for Keller taxpayers.
And it’s not good for Republicans.
Abbott must be embarrassed. Texas Republicans usually stand for careful stewardship of the public trust.
Republicans stand strongly against the illegal use of public money for political advertising. They’ve even warned schoolteachers against email campaigns.
But there was Keller using taxpayers’ cityofkeller.com website, Facebook and Twitter accounts to route followers to sign up for Abbott’s campaign rally Tuesday at a Keller Republican Club meeting at Venture Church.
You think that’s OK?
Just imagine if your school district website posted a sign-up link for a Beto O’Rourke rally.
Under Texas law, it is both a Class A misdemeanor and a campaign ethics violation to spend public money to support or oppose a candidate. That includes the staff time involved, and “support” legally includes any links, “likes” or posts that route traffic to sites promoting a candidate.
On a page warning residents about traffic at the Abbott rally, the city announcement added: “Free registration for those interested in attending this event is available here,” with a link to the ticket sign-up at eventbrite.com.
I talked with two experts on Texas campaign ethics law.
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Both said sending readers to a campaign website is not “neutral.”
“If if is a campaign event for Gov. Abbott, then there is a justifiable complaint about the city promoting such an event using city resources,” Austin lawyer Andrew Cates wrote by email.
Council member Ross McMullin saw nothing wrong with city staffers sending website followers to sign up for a Keller Republican Club political rally.
Of course, he and Mayor Armin Mizani are co-founders of the Keller Republican Club.
Calling the city announcement “factual and unbiased,” he said accusing Keller of violating the law against using public funds for political advertising is “completely below the belt.”
He didn’t know about the city announcement before it was posted, he said.
“Did you do any fact-finding?” he asked.
Yes.
I read Texas Election Code Section 255.003(a) and Administrative Code 20.1(11)(B).
The law prohibits spending public money for “a communication that supports or opposes ... a candidate.”
McMullin said Republicans believe in “transparency, ethics and following the law.” Keller posted the announcement about Abbott’s visit “to enhance the well-being of its residents,” he said.
Abbott is smart coming to Keller.
Tarrant County is the second largest mother lode of Republican votes in Texas. Most of those voters live in the county’s north half.
Keller is home to more than a few Republicans from the tea party fringe supporting Abbott’s March 1 primary opponents: Highland Park Republican Don Huffines, a former Ron and Rand Paul fundraiser; Burleson Republican Chad Prather, an entertainer; and Garland Republican Allen West, a patriot-movement candidate.
Abbott needs Keller’s and Tarrant County’s support in the worst way.
But this was the worst way.
This story was originally published January 14, 2022 at 10:05 AM.
