Mass transit use hits 50-year high on pump prices

By Rebekah Kebede, Matthew Robinson and Matthew Lewis - Reuters - Monday, Mar 10, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The number of Americans hopping buses and grabbing subway straps has climbed to the highest level in half a century as soaring gasoline costs push more commuters to take mass transit.

U.S. mass transit ridership began to surge when gasoline hit the $3 a gallon level in 2005 and has continued to rise steadily ever since as pump prices top record after record, according to a report released on Monday by the American Public Transit Association.

"As people are struggling with the increase in fuel prices, they have to make adjustments, and one of the ways they are doing that is driving less and taking public transportation more," said William Millar, the president of the APTA.

Mass transit use increased by more than 2 percent in 2007 to the highest level in 50 years, with Americans taking more than 10 billion trips on public transport while the number of vehicle miles traveled was flat in the first 10 months of the year.

Even when gasoline prices dipped last year and some people returned to driving, others appear to have switched to public transport permanently, according to Millar.

"We started seeing gas prices consistently go above $3 a gallon (in 2005) and we noticed that overall transit ridership was going up," Millar said.

"When gas prices moderated, some of those people said, 'Hey, this works pretty good for me, I'll stick with it."'

The largest area of mass transit growth was in light rail use, which includes street cars and trolleys, with a 6 percent increase during 2007. Commuter rails were second with an increase of 5.5 percent in ridership and subway ridership had an increase of 3.1 percent.

Cities with less than 100,000 people also saw a large increase -- 6.4 percent -- in public transportation use.

With many analysts predicting $4 gasoline this summer, mass transit use is likely to become even more popular.

"If past experience is any indication, as the price of fuel goes up and particularly as it hits a psychological milestone, which I expect $4 is, I would expect that we would see a spurt in ridership," Millar said.

Read more

Art Hall Accepts Thousands From Valero PAC, Employees

Hall Previously Claimed Valero Told Him His Wife's Position With The Firm Constituted No Conflict Of Interest
Vince Leibowitz - February 28, 2008

AUSTIN--Former San Antonio City Councilman Art Hall has accepted more than $5,000 in contributions from Valero Energy's political action committee and several of its employees, according to records from the Texas Ethics Commission.

On February 8, Hall received a $5,000 contribution from the Valero Political Action Committee, a PAC notorious for giving thousands of dollars to Texas' most conservative Republicans-- and Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams, the man Hall and Dale Henry (D-Lampasas) seek to replace in the November general election.

In addition to the $5,000 from Valero's PAC, Hall also took more than $2,000 from Valero employees and attorneys in late January and February. According to Hall's most recent filing with the Texas Ethics Commission, he received the following contributions from Valero employees and attorneys:


Robert Bower, Valero Attorney, $500 2/23
Theodore Guidry, Valero employee, $500, 1/26
Diane Hirsch, Valero Attorney, $300, 2/23
Martin Loeber, Valero Attorney, $500, 2/23
Rich Walsh, Valero Attorney, $1,500, 2/23
Parker Wilson, Valero Attorney, $500, 2/23


"The money that Art Hall has accepted from Valero's PAC and its employees is especially troubling given the fact that he is very connected to Valero through the fact that his wife is an attorney for Valero," said Vince Leibowitz, campaign director for Dale Henry, Hall's principal opponent.

According to Hall's Personal Financial Statement on file with the Texas Ethics Commission, Hall's wife owns between 5,000 and 9,999 shares of stock in Valero which, if sold, would represent a net gain of $10,000 to $24,999.

"All of this is especially disturbing given the fact that Art Hall is actually getting advice from Valero on what constitutes a conflict of interest for his campaign," said Leibowitz.

At a forum in Decatur on January 29, Hall was asked if he believed it constituted a conflict of interest that his wife, Stephanie Hall, is an attorney for Valero considering the Railroad Commission regulates the oil and gas industry. Hall told the audience that he had contacted Valero and that he was advised by the company that her work would not constitute a conflict of interest for him.

"Art Hall is getting ethics advice and money from Valero energy. What else is he getting from them? Are they advising him on energy policy as well? Art Hall represents no departure from the current rubber-stamp culture at the Texas Railroad Commission where Commissioners take thousands of dollars from oil company PACs and their employees and then give them whatever they want without regard for the best interest of Texas consumers or the environment," Leibowitz said.

"Valero's PAC is notorious for giving large sums of money to Republicans and pet conservative causes," Leibowitz said. "Valero has given Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams $20,000. Now Art Hall is taking Valero's money and telling Texans that he will bring 'balance' to the Texas Railroad Commission. What kind of 'balance' is that, exactly? The kind of 'balance' where Hall will simply be another hand out taking money from the oil industry? That's not 'balance,' that is merely more of the same," Leibowitz continued.

Valero has given incumbent Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams $10,000 on two occasions: once less than a year ago on June 28, 2007, and once on June 7, 2002. Valero has also contributed to some of Texans most anti-consumer, counter-progressive Republicans and Republican causes.

The company's PAC gave $15,000 to Tom Craddick's "Stars Over Texas" Leadership PAC ($10,000 on 10/11/06 and $5,000 on 10/25/04), and $30,000 to Speaker Craddick's personal campaign account since 2004 ($10,000 on 11/08/05 and $10,000 on 11/5/07, and $10,000 on 11/10/04). A small sampling of Valero's contributions to Republicans include:


Texas Conservative Coalition ($2,500 on 9/10/07)
Former State Rep. Joe Nixon ($1,000 on 3/5/04)
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst ($10,000 on 11/6/03)
Attorney General Greg Abbott ($10,000 on 7/11/03)
Railroad Commissioner Victor Carrillo ($5,000 on 1/29/04)
U.S. Senator John Cornyn ($2,500 while Cornyn was Texas' AG on 11/7/2000)
State Rep. Phil King ($2,500 on 10/23/07)
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples ($5,000 on 11/27/07)
Former State Rep. Talmadge Heflin ($1,000 on 11/9/04)

The Valero-tied contributions aren't the only suspect contributions Hall has received as a candidate. While on the San Antonio City Council, Hall accepted money from executives and employees of the HB Zachry company, a San Antonio-based company which has paired with Spanish company Cintra and, in March 2005, signed a comprehensive development agreement authorizing $3.5 million in planning for the first phase of the controversial Trans-Texas Corridor. Hall accepted a $500 contribution from HB Zachry on April 26, 2005 and a $250 contribution from J.P. Zachry on August 8, 2005. As a San Antonio City Councilman, Hall also took money from Valero's PAC on May 3, 2005 ($500).

At the January 29 forum in Decatur, Hall also failed to state a position on a question that asked whether or not he favored continued development of the Trans-Texas Corridor, which will include "designated utility zones" which will facilitate the transport of oil and natural gas and could have a significant negative impact on Texas' environment and groundwater.

Henry faces Art Hall of San Antonio and Mark Thompson of Hamilton in the March 4 Democratic Primary. The winner of the March 4 Democratic Primary will face Commissioner Michael L. Williams in the general election.

Reuters Reports TxDOT Audit

The great audit of TxDOT's fluffed up numbers (to support the TxDOT craving to toll our freeways) made national news! My favorite snips from the Reuters article:

"The transportation agency projected a $3.6 billion shortfall by 2015. But Lt Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Tom Craddick said it failed to include a total of $8 billion of transportation bonds and faulted its forecasts for higher maintenance costs."

"Texas has the nation's biggest privatization program -- a $50 billion multiyear plan -- that Republican Gov. Rick Perry says is needed to keep traffic from stalling growth.

Read more

DFWRCC urges Denton County Voters to support Hugh Coleman

By Faith Chatham - DFWRCC - Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008

Hugh Coleman (R) who is challenging Cynthia White (R) for Denton County Commissioner Pct 1 in the Republican Primary. In the General Election either White or Coleman will face Democratic candidate Phyllis Wolper, who is unopposed in the Democratic Primary.

Cynthia White, with Wendy Davis, led the NCTCOG RTC in developing a 2030 plan for the region calling for 675 additional miles of tolled roads or additional tolled HOV lanes in the DFW region by the year 2030. At the RTC's vote for awarding the contract for SH121 to either Cintra or NTTA, Cynthia Whilte and Wendy Davis both gave very long, pleading speeches, with tears in their eyes almost to the point of sobbing, begging members to vote for Cintra "because if we do not accept the Cintra bid, no investors will ever come to the Dallas Fort Worth area ever again."

Ms. White is a member of the Board of Directors of NASCO CORRIDOR GROUP which lobbied to get legislation passed to enable construction of the Trans Texas Corridor.


I asked Hugh Coleman specifically about his position on toll roads. He said: "I absolutely opposes tolling existing roads -- like SH121. We, the taxpayers, have already paid for it and should not be taxed again."

"Toll roads should be only as a last resort." He favors the old model --- where roads were constructed as toll roads only when other resources were not available for construction cost -- similar to the I-30 (Dallas Fort Worth Turnpike). The old model is frequently described as 'building the best road you can for the least money, maintaining it as efficiently as you can, keeping the tolls as low as possible and retiring the debt as fast as you can. When enough users had paid tolls to retire the debt, the road becomes non-tolled public road.'

Hugh Coleman does not favor tolling a road to raise revenue to use on other projects. Ms. White, a member of NASCO CORRIDOR GROUP, and former President of the NCTCOG Regional Transportation Commission, favors tolling existing highways, utilizing private partners who profit from investing their capital in the public infrastructure projects, and utilizing revenue from one project to create a revenue stream to fund other transportation projects. Under Ms. White's leadership the RTC has approved a toll rate structure which charges users higher tolls than are necessary to maintain the roads and retire the debts.

In the Republican Primary, DFW Regional Concerned Citizens urges Denton County Republican Voters to support Hugh Coleman.

See Denton Record-Chronicle Article.

Resolutions for March 4th Precinct Conventions

By Faith Chatham - DFWRCC - Feb. 18, 2008

DFW Regional Concerned Citizens concurrs with TURF that these resolutions should be passed by precinct conventions across Texas on March 4th. Please print them out and take them to your Party's Precinct Caucus election day at 7:15 p.m. Present them at the Precinct Convention and urge passage of these resolutions.


By Terri Hall - TURF - Feb. 18, 2008

PLAN TO GO TO YOUR PRECINCT CONVENTION WHEN THE POLLS CLOSE
Resolutions to bring to precinct convention / caucuses that convene at your precinct immediately after the polls close on March 4:

- Eminent Domain -

RESOLUTION
Against the eminent domain abuse for toll roads

Whereas, private Texas land can be taken through eminent domain for roadways; and

Whereas, the Texas Transportation Commission, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Turnpike Authority, and Regional Mobility Authorities in
the State of Texas have proposed and signed Comprehensive Development
Agreements (CDAs), also known as public-private partnerships, that would allow
land taken through eminent domain to be leased by private companies including
foreign consortiums/entities, for private and/or commercial gain; and

Whereas, the existing Texas eminent domain law has so many loopholes andexceptions that any new or existing public roadway and road right of way canbecome part of a public-private partnership (CDA) leased and operated by
private companies, including foreign consortiums/entities, for private and/or
commercial gain;

Now, therefore, be it:
Resolved, that we urge the Legislature to close any loopholes in our
eminent domain laws that allows ANY government agency to take our private land for toll roads to be operated, leased, or managed by private companies, including foreign companies, for profit; and further be it

Resolved, that the laws of the State of Texas should be amended to, without exception, prohibit the use of any portion of any new or existing, publicly-owned roadway facility or right of way to be operated, leased, or managed by private
companies, including foreign companies, for profit.

Adopted this ____day of _______, 20_ _ , at the Precinct Convention of Precinct

#_______,_ ____________ County of the__________________Party of Texas.

________________________________________
Name of Officer

________________________________________
Signature




- Tolling Existing Roads -


RESOLUTION
Against the Tolling of Existing Roadways in Texas

Whereas, we have already paid for our public roads and public road rights of way through the various local, State and federal taxes spent on road construction and maintenance; and

Whereas, the Texas Transportation Commission, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Turnpike Authority, and Regional Mobility Authorities in
the State of Texas have proposed the conversion of portions of existing road
facilities and/or rights of way into tolled road facilities and rights-of-way; and
Whereas, existing Texas law has so many loopholes and exceptions that any existing public roadway and road right of way can be tolled without a vote of the citizens of the county in which the facility or right of way is located; and

Whereas, the conversion of any portion of an existing public road or road right of way into a tolled roadway constitutes the double taxation of the Citizens of the State of Texas;

Now, therefore, be it:
Resolved, that we oppose the tolling of any portion of any existing, publicly owned roadway facility or right of way; and further be it

Resolved, that the laws of the State of Texas should be amended to, without exception, prohibit the use of any portion of any existing, publicly-owned roadway facility or right of way as part of a tolled roadway facility and/or tolled right of way without the majority vote of the citizens in the county in which the existing public roadway facility or right of way is located; and further be it
Resolved, that this measure be applied immediately to ANY and ALL roadways not currently open to traffic as a toll road to prevent any proposed conversions from occurring without such a vote of the residents of the affected county.

Adopted this ____day of _______, 20_, at the Precinct Convention of Precinct

#_______,_____________County of the__________________Party of Texas.

________________________________________
Name of Officer

________________________________________
Signature

________________________________________________________________




- Market-based tolling - download resolution


RESOLUTION
Repeal Market-Based Tolling

Whereas, market-based tolls determine the highest possible toll “the market can bear;” and

Whereas, market-based tolls do not determine the toll rate based on the actual cost of construction, maintenance, and debt retirement but rather on how much profit the government can make off a given roadway; and

Whereas, this method of tolling allows the government to siphon money from motorists on one road segment to pay for other road segments;

Whereas, this method of tolling essentially applies the same problematic provisions as private equity toll roads (that are currently under a moratorium in Texas) to government toll roads by having private companies determine how much money the government can make off a roadway as if a private firm were
tolling the road;

Whereas, this method of tolling is to maximize revenue and gouge motorists with unnecessarily high toll taxation rather than about providing transportation;

Now, therefore, be it:
Resolved, that we oppose market-based tolling; and further be it
Resolved, that the laws of the State of Texas should be amended to, without exception, prohibit the use of “market valuation” and any form of market-based
tolls; and further be it

Resolved, that this measure be applied immediately to all roads where bonds have not already been sold.

Adopted this ____day of _______, 20_ _ , at the Precinct Convention of Precinct

_______,_ ____________ County of the__________________Party of Texas.

________________________________________


Name of Officer________________________________________
Signature




- Privately-controlled toll roads -


RESOLUTION
Against the Ownership, Leasing, Operation, and Management of
Public Facilities by Private Entities

Whereas, the public facilities owned by the agencies and units of government of the State of Texas are owned, in fact, by the citizens of Texas; and

Whereas, proposals have been made to turn over the ownership, leasing, operation and/or management of existing and future public facilities in Texas to agencies, companies and/or private consortiums which are lead and primarily owned by private entities; and

Whereas, we believe that the collective public and private resources exist within the United States of America to safely, securely and efficiently own, operate and manage the public facilities owned by the citizens of the State of Texas; and

Whereas, we see no need for private firms and governments to profit from the public facilities owned by the citizens of Texas; and

Whereas, turning over for lease or ownership, the operation or management of public facilities to privately-controlled organizations represents an unnecessary financial and security risk to the citizens of the State of Texas;

Now, therefore, be it:
Resolved, that we oppose any contract between any agency or unit of government of the State of Texas and any private company or government or any private consortium including foreign firms; and further be it Resolved, that the laws of the State of Texas should be amended to, without exception, to prohibit agencies and units of government of the State of Texas from entering into any contract with any private company or government or any private consortium including foreign firms for the purposes of transferring the ownership, leasing, operation and/or management of any Texas public facility;

and further be it
Resolved, that this measure be applied immediately to prevent any such contracts under consideration from being executed and to cancel any such existing contracts.

Adopted this ____day of _______, 20_ ____ , at the Precinct Convention of Precinct

#_______,_ ______________ County of

the__________________Party of Texas.

____________________
Name of Officer

________________________________________
Signature

Atmos spares few expenses, and ratepayers pick up the tab

By R.A. DYER - Fort Worth Star-Telegram Staff Writer - Mon, Feb. 18, 2008

AUSTIN -- Even as Atmos Energy was removing luxurious hotel stays and limousine rides from a natural gas rate case last year, its attorneys and consultants litigating the issue were running up more bills at fancy hotels and spending more than $100 for restaurant meals, according to documents obtained by the Star-Telegram.

North Texas customers of the gas utility will have to foot the bills -- plus about $1.7 million more in questionable expenditures -- because the three members of the Texas Railroad Commission gave them their approval last week.
Among the questionable charges are more than $16,400 in bills at expensive hotels, more than $3,000 for meals at pricey restaurants, and mileage reimbursements by at least one Atmos official that is almost double the federal standard.

"As it now stands ... the parties have not established the reasonableness of certain expenses included in the reimbursement requests," an agency hearings examiner says in a Feb. 5 report.

All the charges were accrued by attorneys and regulatory experts involved in a 2007 Atmos rate case. Most of the controversial costs were charged by the North Texas utility, although one of the cities opposing Atmos also failed to sufficiently document some expensive consultant charges, according to the report.

In the 2007 case, Atmos tried to charge its ratepayers for the cost of hotel stays of over $900 per night, expensive cases of wine, extravagant meals and limousine service. The utility removed those expenditures after they were reported by the Star-Telegram.

The cost of litigation

By state law, expenses associated with litigating rate cases -- whether those expenses are incurred by utility attorneys, or by attorneys representing ratepayer interests -- typically get passed onto customer bills. The controversial charges cited in the expert's report were included in a compromise settlement on legal costs from last year's case, and which was approved Tuesday by the three members of the Railroad Commission.

But commission Chairman Michael Williams stressed that the agency expert did not find that any of the legal bills were definitively out of bounds -- only that some could bear more scrutiny.
Williams also noted that the agency's expert recommended approval of the legal expenditures because further scrutiny would only drive up costs more.

"What the hearing examiner has to say is that, on first blush, these items could raise concern -- however, he's also recommending approval," Williams said. "This [settlement] is in the best interest of cities. There is an argument that we could have thrown it out, and forced them to [have a trial to prove their expenses] -- but that would not have served the ratepayers."

What are some of expenditures raising concern? According to the findings from the hearings examiner:

Atmos attorneys and consultants submitted $16,410.94 in hotel charges that could be considered excessive. Although the examiner's report did not break down the calculation, it said charges above $172.50 per night -- that is, $150 plus tax -- could be considered a luxury. "Other parties had no trouble staying at motels that were under $150 per night on most occasions," the examiner wrote, adding, "The State of Texas limits its motel travel expense to a maximum reimbursed rate of $85 per night, plus tax."

The Feb. 5 report identified $3,143.75 in questionable Atmos meal expenses. A "review of the invoices of Atmos Mid-Texas for meals from consultants' shows 88 occurrences of meals in excess of $100," the hearings examiner said.

The hearings examiner cited $3,888 in questionable mileage expenses by Atmos and noted that one of the utility's consultants billed for mileage reimbursement of 85 cents per mile. "There is nothing in the record to support the reasonableness of this amount," the examiner said, adding that the Internal Revenue Service considers 44.5 cents per mile a reasonable allowance for reimbursement.

More than $365,000 in charges associated with a technical billing issue raised may have been unwarranted because an expert witness for the utility was found to be unfamiliar with the company's billing practices.

Atmos attorneys have said the company can defend each expenditure. In a statement, the utility noted that all parties in the rate case agreed to the legal costs.

"This cooperative and collaborative approach to negotiation and compromise has allowed the parties in this proceeding to avoid a protracted legal battle that would have increased costs and expenses exponentially," the company said

.

The hearings examiner also identified $186,750 in consultant charges from Dallas that lacked sufficient backup documentation. Norman Gordon, an attorney representing Dallas in the rate case, said the municipality could have easily provided the documentation had it become necessary.

$9.7 million in legal bills

In total, attorneys for Atmos and various city groups and others opposing the company ran up about $9.7 million in legal bills in the rate case. Of those overall legal costs, Atmos attorneys and legal consultants will bill ratepayers for about $6.6 million, and various city groups and others opposing Atmos will bill for $3.1 million.

Atmos has sought to increase rates in that case by about $56.9 million annually. City attorneys had sought to lower rates by about $37 million. The Texas Railroad Commission ultimately awarded a $4.8 million increase and a one-time refund of $2.2 million to customers.
Read more in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Texas House Elections Committee Public Hearing: Examines lobbyist disclosure and use of state e-mail for political communications

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTIONS COMMITTEE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TIME & DATE: 1:00 PM, Monday, February 25, 2008

PLACE: E2.028

CHAIR: Rep. Leo Berman


The committee will hear invited testimony on the following charges:


Study the exemption in the Texas lobby contingent fee ban, which currently permits contingent fees and does not require lobby registration, for influenceing the purchasing of goods or servisces by a state agency.

Consider whether this exemption should be amended or repealed.

Research the current Texas law prohibiting the use of public resources
for political advertising, and determine whether the law needs to be amended to clarify that publicly funded e-mail systems may not be used for political communications.

Rental Car Agreements charge up to $100.00 for a $1.00 toll on NTTA

TxDOT Trans Texas Corridor TTC69 Townhall Meeting Beeville - Hank Gilbert

Linda Stall discusses TxDOT's view of "Highest and best use of land" and pass along cost to the taxpayer. Linda tells TxDOT that hundreds of people have been in that hall tonight who are satisfied with the current best use of the land:





Part II - TxDOT discusses eminent domain and Quick Take Process with Hank Gilbert:


Trey Duhon discusses transportation funding with TxDOT officials:


Martha Estes reads poem on Mary Peters:


800PACK HALL IN HEMPSTEAD - WALLER COUNTY OPPOSING TTC-69:

North American Union and Multi-Modal Corridors

Tx RR Commission Candidate - Dale Henry: Protecting state's water a priority

By RANDY ROSS - Longview News-Journal - Friday, February 08, 2008

Protecting the waters of Texas is a priority for Dale Henry.

The 76-year-old Democratic candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission said the production of oil and gas in Texas does not matter if the industry destroys Texas' natural water sources.

"We have to stop wasting and contaminating our water," Henry said.

Henry faces Art Hall of San Antonio and Mark Thompson of Hamilton in the Democratic primary election on March 4.

Henry has more than 40 years of experience working in the oil and natural gas fields in the United States and abroad, according to his campaign Web site. He has a bachelor of science degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

"I've been hands-on from the top to the bottom," Henry said. "I more or less speak the language of the oilfield."

The Railroad Commission is the state agency that regulates the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry and the surface mining of coal. Established by the Legislature in 1891, the commission is the state's oldest regulatory agency, according to the agency's Web site.

The self-described environmentalist from Lampasas is a former city manager and county commissioner. He also founded 4 Arrows, the first cementing service company contracted by the railroad commission.

Henry said his experience in the oil and gas industry make him an ideal candidate for the commission. He said he knows the commission's rules and regulations from working as a contractor, and he would be able to begin working on his first day.

The oil and gas industry has a strong economic impact on the state, he said. That impact has come at a cost to the public, he said.

Henry said the commission has for many years considered the economics of the industry more important than public safety. He said that philosophy has changed in recent years, but it needs to continue to change. He said the commission must consider what is in the public's best interest.

"Environmentally, we have a problem," Henry said.

He said companies often cut corners when installing casing in wells to save money. As time erodes sealing and concrete shifts, water begins flowing and drawing out contaminants.

By forcing companies to install casing properly, Henry said companies would save more money in the long-term by avoiding remedial and repair work.

"These are serious matters," Henry said.

Attempts to reach Republican incumbent Michael Williams for comment were unsuccessful Thursday.

Read more in the Longview News-Journal

Super Bowl Tickets Part 2

R. A. Dyer - Politex - February 11, 2008

Last week, the Star-Telegram reported that state Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, had accepted free Super Bowl tickets in 2004 from a top lobbyist for CenterPoint Energy.

But King, R-Weatherford, wasn't the only elected official to have accepted CenterPoint's largesse.

The same 2004 lobby report from CenterPoint Vice President Scott Rozzell that shows free tickets for King and his son also shows free tickets for Republican Michael Williams and his wife.

King chairs the House Committee on Regulated Industries. Williams chairs the Texas Railroad Commission. CenterPoint has business before both.

Watchdog groups have said it's improper to accept such gifts because it gives the impression that policymakers are too close to the industries they oversee.

But Williams, like King, said he did nothing wrong. Both are running for re-election

"It's legal and it's ethical and it's consistent with state law," said Williams. "It was reported who purchased the ticket, who I went with, who went with me and so forth. Voters can make their own judgments."

King earlier denied to the Star-Telegram that CenterPoint has paid for his ticket. But after being asked about the old lobby report from Rozzell, King acknowledged that he accepted the freebie.

King faces former Weatherford Mayor Joe Tison in the Republican primary. Williams is unopposed in the Republican primary. However, three Democrats are vying for that party's nomination to run against him.

--R.A. Dyer
Read more in POLITEX

Deal would expedite 360/E. Broad Street crossing expansion

By ROBERT CADWALLADER - Special to the Star-Telegram - Mon, Feb. 11, 2008
MANSFIELD -- An agreement between city and state officials could speed relief to the traffic-clogged intersection of Texas 360 and East Broad Street by early fall.

The City Council is set to consider a resolution tonight that would clear the way for the $785,000 project, which would install traffic signals and widen the East Broad Street crossing between the northbound and southbound frontage roads. The main lanes of Texas 360 have not yet been constructed.

"During the morning and evening peak hours, it's hard to get through the intersection," Assistant City Manager Chris Burkett said. "These improvements will help that, especially during the football season."

The Mansfield school district's stadium stands near the intersection, one of the most complained-about crossings in the city.

The state has agreed to allow the city to bid on the project; the state bidding process would take about six months longer. However, a major obstacle had to be negotiated away.

Several months ago, the state said that if city took over the project it would also have to take over maintenance of not only that intersection but all other state highway signals in the city.

The city has to start maintaining those lights anyway by 2010 because its population exceeds 50,000. But city officials wanted to avoid the estimated $192,000 in costs over the next two years.

State officials have now agreed to allow the city to maintain only the Texas 360-East Broad intersection during that period.

Mansfield City Council

Three elections: The council is expected to call the general city election -- to decide the Place 6 and 7 council seats, currently held by Michael McSpadden and Larry Broseh, respectively -- and two special elections to fill the mayoral vacancy and update the city charter for the first time in 20 years. Embattled Mayor Barton Scott stepped down last month in the face of a recall election. The three elections would be May 10.

State of the City: City Manager Clayton Chandler will outline the staff's analysis of the city's current and future financial health. In this shortened version of the staff's presentation to New York bond rating agencies in the fall, Chandler said he will acknowledge that the housing slowdown has crimped the city budget but that continuing commercial growth -- especially in sales taxes -- has eased the impact.

Gas drilling: The council will discuss a subcommittee's suggestions for stepping up controls on oil and gas well exploration. A key goal is to get drilling companies to share right of way to run transmission lines.

Read more in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Local area mayoral and council seats up for May 10th Election

The Dallas Morning News - Sunday, February 10, 2008

Here's a look at other selected mayoral and council seats up for election May 10:


•Arlington: Four of the nine council seats are up for election. Veteran at-large members Steve McCollum and Ron Wright, the mayor pro tem, have said they don't intend to run. The other incumbents up for re-election are Mel LeBlanc and Sheri Capehart.


•Duncanville: The balance of power could shift if the mayor's seat or the District 2 council seat changes hands. Mayor David Green and District 2 council member Scott Cannon routinely vote together when the council splits 4-3. Both plan to run again, as does one of their opponents, District 4 member Deborah Hodge.


•Flower Mound: Mayor Jody Smith is expected to seek a third term. In Place 2, Planning and Zoning Board member Steve Dixon is running, and incumbent Al Filodoro has indicated he probably will, too. In Place 4, incumbent Laurie Long isn't running; Planning and Zoning Board member Jean Levenick is expected to run.


•Garland: The council seats held by Douglas Athas in District 1, Laura Perkins Cox in District 2, Larry Jeffus in District 4 and Jackie Feagin in District 5 are up for election. All four incumbents are expected to run again.


•Grand Prairie: District 1 council member Lee Herring has said he won't run again. At-large member Ruthe Jackson and District 3 member Bill Thorn have said they will.


•Highland Village: Mayor Dianne Costa faces a challenge from Fred Busche, who left the council last year because of term limits. The two have sparred in the past over development projects at the FM2499-FM407 intersection. Two open council seats also are up for election: In Place 2, Don Combs can't run because of term limits, and in Place 6, Scott McDearmont has said he won't run again.


•Lancaster: Five-term Mayor Joe Tillotson's decision not to run has prompted District 5 council member Clyde Hairston to declare for the seat. The District 2, 4, 5 and 6 seats will also be up for election.


•Lewisville: Two council seats are up for election. Place 1 representative Lathan Watts plans to run again, and Place 3 incumbent Greg Tierney said he's leaning toward doing so. No challengers have surfaced.


•Park Cities: The mayors and all council seats are up for election. In University Park, all the incumbents but Harry Shawver (term limits) can run again. In Highland Park, Mayor Bill White and council members Andy Smith and Webber Beall face term limits, but Gail Madden, George Reynolds and Bruce "Smokey" Swenson are eligible to run again.


•Plano: Three council seats are up for election. Incumbents Loretta Ellerbe in Place 3 and Harry LaRosiliere in Place 5 are seeking re-election. In Place 1, term limits will keep Shep Stahel from running again.


•Rockwall: Three council seats will be on the ballot. Incumbents Stephen Straughan in Place 2, Cliff Sevier in Place 4 and Margo Nielsen in Place 6 have said they plan to seek re-election.
Read more in the Dallas Morning News

DFW REGIONAL CONCERNED CITIZENS ENDORSES DALE HENRY

By DFWRCC - Feb. 7, 2008ARLINGTON, TX - Feb. 7, 2008: DFW Regional Concerned Citizens, a watchdog activists group/think tank, formally endorses Dale Henry for Railroad Commissioner. DFW Regional Concerned Citizens recognized Mr. Henry last year as 2007 Texan Friend of the Environment for his service in educating citizens about safety and water conservation as gas drilling escalated in the densely populated Barnett Shale region of NCTexas. DFW Regional Concerned Citizens rarely endorses candidates in the primary, however, all of the founding members of DFWRCC voted to endorse Mr. Henry for Railroad Commissioner because of their consensus that his expertise as a safety engineer in the petroleum industry and work on milestone renewable energy projects, water conservation and research and development in technologies to increase the output of existing oil and gas wells better equips him to understand and regulate the Texas energy sector.

Mr. Henry, a retired UT Austin trained petroleum engineer, has devoted his life since retirement to pro-bono service to neighborhood and environmental citizens' groups during turbulent years when the Railroad Commission has failed to protect the environment, neighborhoods, schools and homes from industrial encroachments by gas and oil producers. Mr. Henry understands what regulations are necessary and what are excessive. He has used previous runs for Railroad Commissioner as opportunities to highlight shortcomings in the regulations which endanger and have cost lives in Texas.

It is our opinion that Mr. Henry's presence on the Railroad Commisssion will be beneficial to other members and to the citizens of this State. His belief that Railroad Commission inspectors, who currently work only weekdays, should be on-duty nights and weekends when most wells are drilled, makes sense to us. We believe that his experience in the industry will enable the Railroad Commission to understand the ramifications of how energy regulation is implemented in Texas.

Dale Henry has assisted TxSharon, a respected blogger who has documented failures of the Railroad Commission to protect citizens of North Central Texas from water contamination by Injection Wells and chemical disposal ponds. He has assisted citizens in the DFW metroplex in understanding the gas drilling/transportation process so that they could participate with their local city councils in passing stronger ordinances.

For the past three years Dale Henry has traveled the State of Texas talking with citizens and speaking out at public hearings against the Trans Texas Corridor. Mr. Henry understands the danger in running pipelines too near major traffic corridors. He objects to the exercise of eminent domain for private/public infrastructure projects. Whenever a government exercises eminent domain, the project should be totally for the public good is the message he has consistently delivered to lawmakers, citizens and the Texas Department of Transportation.

In making this endorsement, DFWRCC is stating the co-founders opinion that Mr. Henry is the best qualified candidate in either the Democratic Primary or Republican Primary to serve on the Railroad Commission at this time.