Travis County Judge, Commissioners Face Token, Underfunded Opposition
Research Provides Detailed Background Information on All Eight Candidates
Editor’s Introduction: As we did with our investigative research for Hays County candidates published October 19, The Austin Bulldog is again stepping off the beaten path of how to cover an election. We point you to some of the stories written by other publications, but we also provide detailed information that journalists seldom take the time to dig up and assemble.
Rather than selectively quote from our background research, our approach is to use an extensive, organized plan to find, copy, and publish source documents that you can explore to form your own conclusions about people seeking elective office.
We’ve dug into the public records and published what was found, to include voter registration and voter history; personal financial statements, campaign finance reports, business records, property records, service on boards, key staff, spouses, web pages, and links to news stories. For some candidates we also found track records for previous bids for public office, State Bar profiles for attorneys, and real estate broker and mortgage broker licenses.
What becomes glaringly obvious in reviewing all the documents assembled by The Austin Bulldog is that the three incumbent Democrats on the Travis County Commissioners Court will apparently have little to fear when the polls close on November 2.
Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe, who has held this position since 1999, is being challenged by Republican Mike McNamara, who has raised a single $100 contribution and spent a total of $1,308 on his campaign. Most of that, $1,250, was to pay his filing fee. Libertarian Mark Tippetts, also running for county judge, has raised nothing and spent nothing.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt, who won her post in 2006, is opposed by Libertarian Matthew Finkel, who has neither raised nor spent any money on his campaign. Also running against Eckhardt is Republican David A. Buttross II, who vowed to raise no more than $500.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Margaret Gomez has held this office since 1995. She staved off a strong challenge from former Austin City Council Member Raul Alvarez to win this year’s Democratic Primary. Since then, she has missed months of meetings due to open heart surgery and hasn’t attended a full meeting since April, according to a report in the Austin American-Statesman. In the general election, she faces only Libertarian David Dreesen, who hasn’t raised or spent any money.
Most rich folks who vie for public office spend sizeable chunks of their own money doing so. Farouk Shami, a Palestine-born Houston businessman, pledged to spend $10 million of his own money in the 2010 Democratic Primary. Tony Sanchez, the West Texas businessman, paid out-of-pocket a reported $60 million for his doomed 2002 Democratic gubernatorial bid, in which he got 40 percent of the vote in losing to Rick Perry.
Buttross is wealthy, too. How wealthy is questionable, but one of his websites claims he owns a $50 million real estate portfolio, with $20 million in real estate notes and $30 million in real estate consisting of office buildings, apartment complexes, residential properties, grocery stories, warehouses, hospitals, hotels, and churches.
Our research connected him and his family to 19 separate businesses and 33 properties, most in Travis County, but also in Bastrop, Bexar and Williamson counties, with a total market valuation of $17.4 million, according to appraisal district records.
His home in West Austin, according to the Travis Central Appraisal District, is valued at nearly $1.9 million.
Yet Buttross does not risk his personal funds to further his political ambitions, or even bother to raise much.
When Buttross ran for mayor of Austin last year, one of his businesses, BDC-REO Inc., loaned his campaign $30,000. But he did not follow through by using much of the loan. He spent less than $6,000 for the campaign, and less than $2,000 of that came out of his own pocket.
His bid for Travis County judge is rock-bottom cheap. He signed the pledge (formally known as a “modified reporting declaration”) to accept contributions of no more than $500 or spend more than that. He’s kept his word, having raised $485 and spent less than $13, as of his last report filed July 15.
Of three Libertarians running for county judge or commissioner, two of them have family members who are also Libertarians contending for elective office.
Matthew Finkel’s wife, Jaclyn “Jax” Finkel, is running for Travis County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace—the same job that Matthew Finkel ran for unsuccessfully in 2006.
David Dreesen’s mother, Gillian Dreesen, is a candidate for Travis County Clerk, while his sister, Jessica Dreesen, is running for the State Board of Education District 10.
Other than a federal lawsuit recently filed against Buttross by two female former employees for alleged “severe and pervasive verbal and psychological abuse,” we did not find anything that points to specific problems with any of these candidates, but you can read the numerous documents we’ve posted and let us know if there are implications we didn’t fathom, more reporting that needs to be done. We invite your comments.
Sam Biscoe: (Democrat-Incumbent)
Office sought:Travis County Judge
Office salary: $111,038
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 512-854-9555
Current Office: Travis County Judge incumbent since 1999
Previous Office: Travis County Commissioner Precinct 1
Texas Voter Registration Application and Voter History
Business Records (None located)
Property Records
Attorney Records
Current boards:
Capital Health Facilities Development Corporation, President
Capital Industrial Development Corporation, Director
Envision Central Texas
Northwest Travis County Road District 3, President
Travis County Capitol Industrial Development Corporation, President
Travis County Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corporation, President
Travis County Development Authority, President
Travis County Housing Finance Corporation, President
Travis County Health Facilities Development, President
Past boards:
Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America
State Farm Aid Corporation
Key Campaign Staff:
Campaign Treasurer: Daniel R. Smith 512-854-9555
Consultant and Fundraiser: Susan Harry
Travis County Staff:
Executive Assistant Cheryl Brown 512-854-9556
Executive Assistant Melissa Velasquez 512-854-9557
Executive Assistant Cheryl Aker 512-854-9558
Executive Assistant Josie Zavala 512-854-9555
Spouse: Donalyn Thompson-Biscoe, DTB Management
Web pages: http://www.co.travis.tx.us/commissioners_court/co_judge.asp
Links to stories: Biographical sketch
Austin American-Statesman article on DWI arrest: http://tinyurl.com/35ej7lk
Mike McNamara: (Republican)
Office sought:Travis County Judge
Office salary: $111,038
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 512-632-5424
Current Office: None
Texas Voter Registration Application and Voter History
Business:
SCCI, business development for state accounts
Senior Technical Writer, Southeastern Computer Consultants
Property Records
Current boards: None found
Past boards: None found
Key Staff: None
Campaign Treasurer: Julia McNamara, 512-926-1186
Spouse: Julia McNamara
Web pages: http://votemcnamara.com/
Campaign: http://tinyurl.com/2dajdn9
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/2fawgvf
LinkedIn: http://tinyurl.com/24cxn2e
Links to stories: None found
Mark Tippetts: (Libetarian)
Office sought:Travis County Judge
Office salary: $111,038
E-mail: None found
Telephone: 512-249-8756
Current Office:
Texas Voter Registration Application and Voter History
Business Records: None found
Property Records
Current boards: None found
Past boards: None found
Key Staff: None
Campaign Treasurer: Mark Tippetts 512-249-8756
Spouse: Jeri Tippetts
Web pages:
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/39ww8fm
Links to stories:
Austin American-Statesman reports Libertarian candidates: http://tinyurl.com/32cgqff
Sarah Eckhardt: (Democrat-Incumbent)
Office sought: Travis County Commissioner Precinct 2
Office salary: $92,362 authorized, $88,812 accepted
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 512-854-9222
Current Office: Precinct 2 Commissioner since 2007
Texas Voter Registration Application and Voter History
Business Records: None found
Property Records
Current boards:
Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board
Capital Health Facilities Development Corporation, Vice President
Capital Industrial Development Corporation, Vice President
Community Action Network, Vice Chair
Conference of Urban Counties Policy Committee
Travis County Cultural Educational Facilities Financial Corporation, Vice President
Travis County Development Authority, Vice President
Travis County Housing Finance Corp, Vice President
Past boards: None found
Key Staff:
Peter Einhorn 512-854-9229 [email protected]
Joe Hon 512-854-9222 [email protected]
Loretta Farb 512-854-9230 [email protected]
Susan Harry, consultant and fundraiser
Net Victories
Campaign Treasurer: Carol Hatfield 512-459-5841
Spouse: Kurt Sauer
Web pages:
Travis County Commissioner site: http://tinyurl.com/3xbdvs3
Blog: http://www.saraheckhardt.com/
Links to stories:
Link to 46 stories in the Austin American-Statesman: http://tinyurl.com/28g3d96
Links to 84 stories in The Austin Chronicle: http://tinyurl.com/26vuhs7
David Buttross: (Republican)
Office sought: Travis County Commissioner Precinct 2
Office salary: $92,362
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 512-970-8932
Current Office: None
Previous office sought: Mayor of Austin 2009, placed fourth with 3.83 percent
Texas Voter Registration Application and Voter History
Business Records (19 businesses)
Property Records (35 properties)
Current boards: None found outside business interests
Past boards:
Austin Social Ventures Partners
Medi-USA
Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanese American Clubs, State Vice President
Key Staff: Campaign Treasurer: Betsy Buttross 512-300-7919
Spouse: Betsy Buttross
Web pages:
Campaign: http://votebuttross.com/home/
Buttross Realty: http://www.buttross.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/buttross
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Buttross
One Cameron Place: http://www.7901cameron.com/
Links to stories:
Links to 24 stories in the Austin American-Statesman: http://tinyurl.com/23gxh3g
Links to 29 stories in The Austin Chronicle: http://tinyurl.com/23oa23d
City Hall Hustle video interview when Buttross ran for mayor in 2009: http://tinyurl.com/25ornqe
Austin Business Journal: Buttross Savings Association gets into banking business: http://tinyurl.com/25cn6pg
Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending: The application for Buttross Savings Association was withdrawn on July 13, 2010: http://tinyurl.com/23vhvmf
Austin Business Journal Oct. 15, 2010: Buttross Group sued amidst abuse charges: http://tinyurl.com/2892qdt
Matthew Finkel (Libertarian)
Office sought: Travis County Commissioner Precinct 2
Office salary: $92,362
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 512-740-6836
Current Office: None
Prevous offices sought:
2008 U.S. House Texas Congressional District 10: Distant third with 2.96 percent
Texas Voter Registration Application and Voter History
Campaign Finance Reports
Personal Financial Statement: None found
Business Records: None found
Property Records
Current boards: The Libertarian Party of Texas: Finkel is one of two state board members from Texas Senate District 14
Past boards: None found
Key Staff: Campaign Treasurer: Self
Spouse: Jaclyn “Jax” Finkel, a candidate for Travis County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace (Libertarian)
Web pages:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TXMattFinkel
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/mattfinkel
Links to stories:
Austin American-Statesman reports Libertarian candidates: http://tinyurl.com/32cgqff
The Austin Chronicle profiled Finkel when he ran for Congress: http://tinyurl.com/26tankv
Texas NORML video: http://tinyurl.com/2avq2zw
Candidates for Travis County Commissioner Precinct 4
Magaret Gomez (Democrat-Incumbent)
Office sought: Travis County Commissioner Precinct 4
Office salary: $92,362
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 512-350-9840, 512-762-7016, Campaign: 512-474-0204
Current Office: Precinct 4 commissioner since 1995
Texas Voter Registration Application and Voter History
Business Records: None found
Property Records
Current boards:
Capital Health Facilities Development Corporation, Secretary
Capital Industrial Development Corporation, Secretary
Travis County Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corporation, Secretary
Travis County Development Authority, Secretary
Travis County Housing Finance Corporation, Secretary
Travis County Health Facilities Development Corporation, Secretary
Past boards:
Deyo Enterprises Inc., Secretary Treasurer
Mexican American Resources In Action (MARIA) Leadership Development, Director
Ponciana Park Community Garden Inc., Registered Agent
Texas Hispanic County Judges and County Commissioners Inc., Registered Agent
Key Staff:
Senior Executive Assistant: Edith Moreida 512-854-9280 [email protected]
Executive Assistant: Norma Guerra 512-854-4444 [email protected]
Campaign Treasurer: Walter Timberlake 512-442-6688
Campaign Manager: Estella French 512-474-0204 [email protected]
Spouse: None found
Web pages:
Travis County Commissioner site: http://tinyurl.com/2urv67z
Campaign: http://www.reelectmargaretgomez.com/
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/2esyq6c
LinkedIn: http://tinyurl.com/2euqw6b
Twitter: http://twitter.com/margaretgomez4
Flickr: http://tinyurl.com/2fm9rug
Links to stories:
Austin American-Statesman PolitiFact: http://tinyurl.com/23kme6m
Austin American-Statesman search results for 18 stories: http://tinyurl.com/23vafsx
Austin American-Statesman Oct. 17, 2010: Commissioner Gomez hasn’t attended a full meeting of the Travis County Commissioners Court since April due to open heart surgery: http://tinyurl.com/2vjs5t7
The Austin Chronicle search results for 104 stories: http://tinyurl.com/24hmlup
David Dreesen (Libetarian)
Office sought: Travis County Commissioner Precinct 4
Office salary: $92,362
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 512-422-4557
Current Office: None
Texas Voter Registration Application and Voter History
Campaign Finance Reports
Personal Financial Statement: None found
Business Records: None found
Current boards: None found
Past boards: None found
Key Staff:
Campaign Treasurer: Self
Spouse: Laurie Dreesen
Mother: Gillian Dreesen, who appraisal district records show is the owner of the home that David Dreesen lists as his home address, is a candidate for Travis County Clerk (Libertarian)
Sister: Jessica Dreesen is a candidate for the State Board of Education District 10 (Libertarian)
Web pages:
Austin Libertarian Meetup Group: http://tinyurl.com/39aympj
Facebook for campaign: http://tinyurl.com/3yfn3hr
LinkedIn: http://tinyurl.com/3ay8eky
MySpace: http://tinyurl.com/33yldhv
Links to stories:
Austin American-Statesman reports Libertarian candidates: http://tinyurl.com/32cgqff
Austin American-Statesman Oct. 17, 2010, challenger to Margaret Gomez: http://tinyurl.com/2vjs5t7
This Investigative Report was made possible by contributions to The Austin Bulldog, which operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The Austin Bulldog has many other investigative projects waiting to be funded. You can bring these investigations to life by making a tax-deductible contribution.
