By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-900515.mp3
Fort Worth, TX – As elections go, campaigns for the local water district board usually don't draw much attention. But in this year of anti-tax, Tea Party protests the Tarrant Regional Water District Board is getting noticed. KERA's Shelley Kofler has more on why two conservative challengers are trying to unseat some well-known officials.
Fort Worth businessman Adrian Murray is armed with his PowerPoint presentation as he faces some 30 members of a Tarrant County republican group. Independent meteorologist John Basham is with him.
Murray and Basham are running as a team for two seats on the Tarrant Regional Water District Board. They're currently held by former Fort Worth Councilman Jim Lane, and longtime civic leader Marty Leonard.
Basham tells listeners the water district deliberates too much in private
"It's an incredibly hard process to get some real numbers and some real answers to see the real process. We want to open that up in a big way," said Basham.
Basham says the numbers they've seen make them question whether public money's being spent on the wrong things: a helicopter that cost taxpayers more than $400,000; a public relations consultant who worked for their competitors and got a $720,000 no- bid contract; the Trinity River Vision Plan, which the water district is funding with some $64 million in cash and a $320 million no-interest loan.
The project will reroute the river, providing flood control, recreation and a new waterfront for development. Murray tells listening conservatives he's not opposed to the project. He just doesn't think public money should pay for it.
"I believe the water board's primary focus is water delivery and flood control," said Murray. "We've seen in recent years it's all about the Trinity River Vision and economic development."
Current board members Lane and Leonard say water district money going to Trinity Vision is paying for flood control. Leonard says the economic development- new retail and housing- will be a nice by-product that revitalizes a blighted part of the city.
Clearly the mission of the water is district is water supply and flood control," said Leonard. "Part of this project is flood control and that's how it's started. And it's developed into something that's a wonderful opportunity for the city of Fort Worth."
Lane adds that there's no way private developers would build the project as Adrian and Basham suggest. The infrastructure is a 100 years old and environmental cleanup is needed.
As for the helicopter, Lane and Leonard say the district needs one to monitor hundreds of miles of pipelines, and buying was cheaper than leasing.
The incumbents also claim their was no conflict in voting to give the water district's four-year, $720,000 public relations contract to their personal political consultant Bryan Epstein without seeking competitive bids.
"He got the job because he's the best in the business," Leonard said. "He represented Jim and he represented me in our campaign four years ago. All you got to do is look at his reputation."
"How do you know he's the best if you don't bid it out and don't take a look at other professionals," the reporter asked?
"Bidding something out doesn't mean someone's the best," Lane answered testily. "If you think that's true how many government contracts have been bid out and they're the worst in the world."
Lane and Leonard are clearly irritated by their opponents. They say the campaign charges aren't based on fact, and the challengers rarely if ever attend meetings.
"If they care why they don't come to our meetings?" queried Leonard.
Lane and Leonard say the Tarrant Regional Water District has won numerous awards for conservation, which saves money. It's aggressively pursuing new sources of water and sharing the costs of transporting it by building a pipeline with Dallas that will deliver millions of gallons a day. The district manages four reservoirs that provide water and recreation
Leonard and Lane say the water district is a big business, and their experience on the board is one big reason they should be reelected
"I think Marty and I have been good stewards we've been there four years we understand how the district operates," Lane said.
Defeating well-known public leaders like Lane and Leonard is a long shot.
But at this republican club , voter Ann Hughes is nodding in agreement as Murray and Basham's talk about less public spending.
We need to get the word out that our tax monies are being wasted," Hughes said.
Murray and Basham say they've spent over $21,000 on campaign mail and signs. Their volunteers are knocking on doors and making calls to rally support.
It's a pretty big effort for an off-the-radar water board race.
But anti-tax, watchdog groups are organizing this year and Murray and Basham are courting their support.
Leonard and Lane are calling on a community that's trusted their judgment before to trust them again.