By Jennifer Bendery, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX –
Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos (D-Austin) today joined Travis County Democratic Party Chair Chris Elliott in responding to yesterday's announcement by former Rep. Todd Baxter (R-Austin) that he has joined the Texas Cable & Telecommunications Association (TCTA) as vice president for government affairs and general counsel. Baxter's announcement comes just two weeks after he resigned from his post as state representative for Texas House District 48.
Elliott said that, until yesterday, Baxter's motive for resigning was not clear. "Now it is clear," he said. "He is abdicating his responsibilities so he can go make some money." The Travis County Democratic Party chair described Baxter's decision to leave office for a lobbyist job before his term is up as "outrageous." What is not being talked about, he said, is "what his abdication will cost taxpayers."
After talking to Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir, Elliott said her office determined that the cost to Travis County taxpayers to hold a special election before the next uniform election date would be a minimum of $250,000. In the event of a subsequent run-off election, the cost to Travis County taxpayers would be a minimum of $125,000.
That means Travis County taxpayers will pay at least $375,000 "all because Baxter decided it was more important to abdicate his responsibilities and be a lobbyist," said Elliott. The "responsible action" would have been for Baxter to finish out his term and simply not run for office again, he said. Now, the governor has a choice, said the Travis County Democratic Party chair. Gov. Perry can either call a special election that does not fall on a uniform election date or call one does fall on a uniform election date, which would cut costs in half to the county, said Elliott.
Elliott urged the governor to call a special election in May in order to save money, noting that people will think "something doesn't smell right" if Perry calls a special election before the next uniform election date. He said people will ask why the governor didn't call an immediate special election for the late Rep. Joe Moreno (D-Houston), who was killed in a car accident last May. The special election to fill his seat wasn't held until the uniform election on Nov. 8.
"It's a mystery to me why there was no special election for Moreno," said Elliott, noting that Perry denied a request by Moreno's family to hold a special election immediately so the district could have representation during special legislative sessions. "These are very hard questions for Perry to answer." But Barrientos said it is "not a mystery to me" why Moreno's special election took so long, implying that the governor did not want the seat filed for the special sessions. "Especially after the senator from [Moreno's] district requested one and the governor said no," he said.
Barrientos said people can connect the dots to see a pattern emerging regarding Baxter's career moves:
- In 2002, Baxter runs for House District 48 and receives between $30,000 to $40,000 in funds from TRMPAC and TAB, associations tied to U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay's "scheme."
- In 2004, Baxter "barely wins" his seat by 147 votes
- Several people involved in "DeLay's scheme" are indicted
- Baxter mails out a newsletter to constituents talking about future school finance matters
- More Democratics line up for Baxter's House seat
- Baxter resigns from the House on the same day that a TCTA woman leaves her job, which is now Baxter's job
- A self-funded GOP candidate is waiting to take Baxter's seat
Some people will say this is all part of "a cynical scheme to appoint a successor," said Barrientos. He pointed out that of the ten legislators choosing not to seek reelection, "Only one is not serving out the term. That's Baxter." The Austin senator said it is "not right" to make Travis County residents pay $250,000 for a special election when that money could be used for things including mental health care, drug rehabilitation and counseling services or utility assistance for the elderly.
Elliott said he heard some reports that Baxter's staff didn't even know he was resigning until that day. "The question today is, 'What's really going on with Baxter?'" he asked. "Nobody's asking these questions." Elliott said he was one of Baxter's constituents and noticed that Baxter's newsletter talking about future work in the legislature arrived around the same time as he announced his resignation.
Elliott said one theory is that Ben Bentzin, the Republican candidate vying for Baxter's seat, has "a lot of his own money" and will be "able to breeze his way through a special election," especially if it is called quickly. When it was suggested that Baxter's departure from the House might actually be more about the Republican Party weeding out vulnerable legislators, Barrientos conceded that nothing illegal is going on. "But there is the undeniable appearance of orchestration," he said.
Earlier today, Texans for Public Justice (TPJ) issued a statement that Baxter's decision to get involved in cable industry lobbying "demonstrates the need to stop former legislators from spinning through the revolving door and cashing out as high-paid hired guns." Citing "serious conflict-of-interest issues", the consumer protection group questioned whether Baxter represented his constituents' interests in the legislature or worked to "line up lucrative future employment."
In related news, TPJ today released a report that analyzes the lobby clients of three lawmakers who left the state legislature last year: Former Reps. Arlene Wohlgemuth (R-Burleson), Jaime Capelo (D-Corpus Christi) and Barry Telford (D-Dekalb). As with Baxter, these lawmakers "carried water for their future employers during their parting legislative session," TPJ said in a statement.