The finance and expense report due 30 days before the elections by incumbent commissioner for District 4 John Villarreal indicates that of the $3,900 he reported in contributions, $2,500 came from a Dallas man who has contributed to candidates he thinks may help him with his investments in low-income housing.
In fact, Villarreal's campaign report indicates that $3,500 of the $3,900 reported (90 percent) came from two vendors – one from Austin and the other from Dallas – doing business with the city.
One for $2,500 was from Naples Investments in Dallas and the other was a $1,000 contribution by delinquent tax collection law firm Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson of Austin who pitched in $1,000 to help his reelection.
The remaining $400 came from Larry and Mary Elizabeth Hollmann, both retired, he as an accountant, she as a teacher.
Villarreal reported receiving the $2,500 in February 8 from Naples Investments, a firm owned by Bill Fisher. Who is Fisher?
Fisher has at least four housing development managed by Sonoma in Brownsville that include Bowie Gardens, Candlewick and at least another one near Del Angel Funeral Home (Tropical Gardens?).
Why is Fisher's presence in Brownsville Housing authority projects newsworthy?
Mr. Fisher was involved in a FBI sting in Dallas, where Sonoma is headquartered. He eventually provided the FBI and the state with audio evidence (he wore a wire) that got a handful of city
officials indicted for demanding bribes for their approval of his projects. Up to now, it has been the biggest corruption case in the history of that city.
The events took place in mid-January 2005, with Fisher one of the main players..
The case involved former City Plan Commissioner D'Angelo Lee, a car dealer named Rickey Robertson and con man Jibreel Rashad who claimed to be construction contractors. Robertson and Rashad had formed a phony company called RA-MILL just one month earlier, with Lee as a hidden partner.
In fact, it was later learned that Rashad had just wrapped up a mortgage fraud scheme that would eventually land him more than 11 years in a federal prison.)
Fisher, whose business was using federal tax credits and tax-exempt bonds to build apartments for low-income tenants, needed city council support.
In Cameron County, one of Fisher's associates, Saleem Jafar of Plano and Dallas, was listed is listed by candidate (and incumbent) Pat Ahumada as having been his largest donor with two donations of $2,500 each in 2011.
Jafar serves as the President of Odyssey Residential Holdings, and is a LP's (ORH) general partner.
One of those listed as partners in that company is noe other than James R. (Bill) Fisher, who serves as Vice President of (ORH) and is responsible for Finance and Development.
He is listed in the company's website as bringing over 10 years of significant experience in all aspects of housing development and finance, specifically affordable housing development and affordable housing finance programs.
On the other hand, the report by challenger Ben Neece, a retired chief municipal judge, indicates he has received $6,500 in contributions from 13 individuals. Eleven were from Brownsville, one from South Padre island, and one from McAllen, Neece reported he had extended himself a $5,000 loan.
The two contributors from outside Brownsville gave Neece $700, a little over 10 percent of the total.
In fact, Villarreal's campaign report indicates that $3,500 of the $3,900 reported (90 percent) came from two vendors – one from Austin and the other from Dallas – doing business with the city.One for $2,500 was from Naples Investments in Dallas and the other was a $1,000 contribution by delinquent tax collection law firm Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson of Austin who pitched in $1,000 to help his reelection.
The remaining $400 came from Larry and Mary Elizabeth Hollmann, both retired, he as an accountant, she as a teacher.
Villarreal reported receiving the $2,500 in February 8 from Naples Investments, a firm owned by Bill Fisher. Who is Fisher?
Fisher has at least four housing development managed by Sonoma in Brownsville that include Bowie Gardens, Candlewick and at least another one near Del Angel Funeral Home (Tropical Gardens?).
Why is Fisher's presence in Brownsville Housing authority projects newsworthy?
Mr. Fisher was involved in a FBI sting in Dallas, where Sonoma is headquartered. He eventually provided the FBI and the state with audio evidence (he wore a wire) that got a handful of city
officials indicted for demanding bribes for their approval of his projects. Up to now, it has been the biggest corruption case in the history of that city.
The events took place in mid-January 2005, with Fisher one of the main players..
The case involved former City Plan Commissioner D'Angelo Lee, a car dealer named Rickey Robertson and con man Jibreel Rashad who claimed to be construction contractors. Robertson and Rashad had formed a phony company called RA-MILL just one month earlier, with Lee as a hidden partner.
In fact, it was later learned that Rashad had just wrapped up a mortgage fraud scheme that would eventually land him more than 11 years in a federal prison.)
Fisher, whose business was using federal tax credits and tax-exempt bonds to build apartments for low-income tenants, needed city council support.
In Cameron County, one of Fisher's associates, Saleem Jafar of Plano and Dallas, was listed is listed by candidate (and incumbent) Pat Ahumada as having been his largest donor with two donations of $2,500 each in 2011.
Jafar serves as the President of Odyssey Residential Holdings, and is a LP's (ORH) general partner.
One of those listed as partners in that company is noe other than James R. (Bill) Fisher, who serves as Vice President of (ORH) and is responsible for Finance and Development.
He is listed in the company's website as bringing over 10 years of significant experience in all aspects of housing development and finance, specifically affordable housing development and affordable housing finance programs.
On the other hand, the report by challenger Ben Neece, a retired chief municipal judge, indicates he has received $6,500 in contributions from 13 individuals. Eleven were from Brownsville, one from South Padre island, and one from McAllen, Neece reported he had extended himself a $5,000 loan.
The two contributors from outside Brownsville gave Neece $700, a little over 10 percent of the total.
14 comments:
Ben Neece is not ready. Voting for Villareal!
Why aren't the real reasons why Neece is seeking office exposed? Like he had the same g-friend as Sossi.
Lnebarger,Goggan,Blair and Sampson give contributions to everyone incluiding every city,county and state elected officials.
Ben Neece is a playboy. Don't need that at city hall. Too many pachangas, bro!
Ben Neece is more than ready to restore integrity in the city administration
Bill Fisher is willing to grease any palm to get an account. He is a leach on public housing and we can only assume that anyone he gives money to is willing to favor him in contracts.
You are right
Ben Neece is not ready to take dirty campaign contributions
Who is Villarreal ?
Pobrecito de Johnny boy he is a clown without personality. He has to go after 6 years of failures
Shame on you John
Brownsville doesn't more tortillas we need better roads, give us a break
John Villarreal has been a disaster as Commissioner
Neece is for weed!
They both are a joke!! Will not be voting for either one of them!!!
Neece has my support
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