Spending Campaign Cash 2007: Senator Brimer
Senator Brimer (R-Ft Worth) has been in the news for spending his donors money on a condo owned by his wife at Westgate Condominiums 1122 Colorado St, Austin Texas. The Ethics Commission's rules are very clear:
§ 253.038. Payments Made to Purchase Real Property Prohibited
(a) A candidate or officeholder or a specific-purpose committee for supporting, opposing, or assisting the candidate or officeholder may not knowingly make or authorize a payment from a political contribution to purchase real property or to pay the interest on or principal of a note for the purchase of real property.
Over the last 6 years he has paid over $176,000 to "J B Realty", "JKB Realty", and "Janna Brimer Realty" for rent. These are names of a realty company owned by his wife, Janna. In his July 2007 report, something has changed.
For Jan and Feb he paid JKB Realty over $2900 a month for condo rent. JKB Realty has the mailing address of 1600 W. 7th St Fort Worth Tx 76102, the same address for Senator Brimers Ft Worth office. But for Mar-Jun he spent just over $700 a month to Westgate Condo Assoc for "Condo dues". This is the same condo where his wife owns property.
He has also paid Ed Shack over $6000 for campaign legal services in the past 6 months. Go figure.
Earlier post: Spending campaign cash: Senator Brimer
Bay Area Houston - Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Senator Brimer is one of a very few who use their campaign contributions to pay his spouse rent for a condo. Over the last 6 years he has paid over $176,000 to "J B Realty", "JKB Realty", and "Janna Brimer Realty" for rent. These are names of a realty company owned by his wife, Janna.
Under the Texas Ethics Commission, it is against the law to use your campaign contributions to pay your spouse for real property purchases, but according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram he has found a gaping wide loophole and is exploiting it with his contributions:
Brimer appears to be in a unique situation: He made special property separation arrangements in a pre-nuptial agreement with his wife, Janna Brimer. They publicly disclosed a 1996 "partition" agreement making the Westgate condo and any future proceeds from it her exclusive property.
Brimer appears to be in a unique situation: He made special property separation arrangements in a pre-nuptial agreement with his wife, Janna Brimer. They publicly disclosed a 1996 "partition" agreement making the Westgate condo and any future proceeds from it her exclusive property.
Brimer's lawyer, Ed Shack, acknowledged that there is nothing to block politicians who leave office from benefiting from what was once separate property. But he noted in a letter to Brimer last week that the law gives legislators special legal protection when they use Ethics Commission opinions as guidance in transactions.
That is the same Ed Shack who is representing State Representative Davis, Speaker Craddick, and many more elected officials. Shack is making good money defending those who take money from their contributors to purchase items for themselves.
Other than the $176,000 paid to his wife, Brimer has paid over $12,000 to GMAC for a vehicle lease, nearly $6000.00 for Christmas gifts, a Christmas mailing for $9300, and $4400 for membership in the Fort Worth Club. He also took a $9500 expense for donating a 1976 Cadillac to Huguley Crystal Heart Gala, for a fundraiser.
