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Citizens Comment

As you note, many of the contributors to Joe Jaworski's campaigns are not members of his constituency.  It is also true of many of his supporters who are not major financial contributors.  
 
I believe that Joe intends to try to use Galveston as a stepping stone, first to state office (he had to backtrack since his state senate bid failed) and then perhaps to national office.  
 
One commentator in the online edition of The Galveston County Daily News referred to Joe's run for the Texas state senate as a smear campaign and I concur.  Here is my theory:  Joe's cousin Robert Draper wrote for Texas Monthly for many years and maintains his contacts with them.  I think that is why and how Joe's opponent, State Senator Mike Jackson, was labeled as furniture in the magazine's annual best and worst legislators issue.
 
On Joe's website for his state senate campaign, he said that he ran for that particular office because he identified the incumbent as vulnerable.  It was Joe who was responsible for the attempt to make Senator Jackson vulnerable.

The following information was reported in The Galveston County Daily News but their online edition does not date back this far; so, you will not be able to find it using their search engine. When Joe Jaworski was on Galveston City Council, someone dumped "the remains of a fast food meal" on his lawn. Joe's response to this was to propose punitive monetary measures (such as a tax or a fine) on those establishments, as if fast food restaurants are responsible for their customers' litter, and are the only businesses that generate litter. This hare-brained idea was not implemented, but it is telling the fact that Joe, an attorney, would even consider such an unfair action. It also reflects Joe's elitism because his family does not patronize fast food emporiums.

Also while Joe was a Galveston City Council member, he opposed the building of a new Eckerd Drug Store (now CVS). When economic development advocates reasoned that Galveston could really use the jobs the project would provide, Joe's side derided these as mainly minimum wage jobs. The community had to point out to him that these jobs could be starter jobs for their children in college. Since Joe never had to work that kind of job, nor will his children ever have to, he did not see the need for these opportunities.

As they say, "Well that's Galveston." The publisher of the local newspaper is "one of them" and married into an old Galveston (pre-1900's) family soon after relocating here in the mid 1980's from the "deep south".
His first task was to take on Galveston's first black city manager (a well-known local high school football star and student council president of one of the first integrated graduating classes of Galveston's only high school). A mostly corrupt and almost all-white city council used the excuse to get rid of the black guy. There was such an out-cry that the newspaper created some sort of "racism committee" that lasted until the dust settled (CYA).

The publisher regularly writes editorials bragging about his wealth and several weeks ago he editorially chastised Galvestonians for living in an "outdoor insane asylum".

I don't know the DA, but he is most assuredly also "one of them," a close-knit group of powerful wealthy insiders, the names of most of whom I've noted on your site. It's the way Galveston is. But I applaud your site for at least being a source for counter-points and opinions.

The chairperson of the Galveston Park Board of Trustees is apparently associated with the law firm of Mills Shirley. The Park Board attorney is apparently also employed by the law firm of Mills Shirley. Other Park Board members have direct or indirect connections with Moody, Mitchell and Fertitta. Moody and Fertitta interests have business connections with Las Vegas (Galveston's Hometown Bank is majority owned by a Moody holding company in Las Vegas; Fertitta is attempting to purchase the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas).

But what about the unelected Galveston Wharves Board? Two members are apparently partners in the law firm of Mills Shirley.

It's not the voters or citizens, but who actually sits in the big chairs and RULES Galveston? Could it be Mitchell, Moody and Fertitta (nipped at the heels by the Sullivans)?

"I believe the chairperson of the Galveston Park Board of Trustees is also an employee of the law firm of Mills Shirley.  Emails I received from her were sent from a Mills Shirley email account.  A recent member of the Galveston Wharves Board was also an attorney at Mills Shirley."

"Chairperson:  Jeri Brock Kinnear (Jack Brock is an attorney with Mills Shirley, which is a legitimate law firm with a web site.  I don't know if the "Brock" in Ms. Kinnear's name is related to the same Jack Brock with Mills Shirley, but I did receive an email her from Mills Shirley.

Vice Chairperson:  Betty Massey:  employed by Moody.

Michael Hightower:  Also employed by Moody (Moody's Las Vegas holding company is majority stock holder in Galveston's Hometown Bank).

Ernest Conner:  Employed by Galveston billionaire George Mitchell; imagine voting against him!

Vic Maceo:  Former employee of Park Board; ancestors moved to Galveston from Sicily, where they set up illegal gambling and vice, and were associated with organized crime.

Laura Leigh Gourley Vogel:  Employee of Tilman Fertitta.  His ancestors also moved to Galveston from Sicily, where they set up illegal gambling and vice, and were associated with organized crime.  Fertitta owns the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas.

Sheryl Rozier:  Husband is architect employed by the Park Board to construct a new pavilion at Stewart Beach.

Edward Walsh:  Local accountant.

Park Board attorney:  Carla Cotropia (you guessed it, an employee of Mills Shirley!)

The Galveston Park Board of Trustees is an unelected tool with many millions of annual dollars coming from hotel taxes, rife with obvious conflicts of interest.  It is probably the most infamous and disliked public body in Galveston (and has been since its creation over 40 years ago).  They are well known for having giving themselves an annual banquet at some well-known restaurant, where they give each other awards.  The arrogance is astonishing."

"Your story today reminded me of a recent experience with a Public Information Act request of the Friendswood obstructionists.

Twice last fall my car was vandalized in my driveway. I made a PIA request for a copy of the first police report and, as usual, the City waited a full ten days to ask for an Attorney General's opinion. Months later the A.G. informed Friendswood that certain information was WELL ESTABLISHED as public information and should be released immediately. Other documents could be withheld.

The pervasive practice of stalling release and incurring unnecessary legal expenses is business as usual for our abusive officials. The A.G. is culpable in this abuse because most of these opinions are buried in "informal letters" which are impossible to research. The A.G.'s office routinely releases email notices of opinions and decisions on other matters of open government - but does not advise the public of these informal letters because the A.G. has assumed the role of protector to abusive government officials.

In the end the Friendswood Police Department spent 43 cents on a stamp to ask me for 20 cents for the two pages that it was willing to send to me. I have no idea how much money Friendswood paid their attorneys.

This isn't even a question of failure to do due diligence. These stalling tactics have become the modus operandi for dishonest and secretive governments - which we all now enjoy.

The subject of telephone records has been decided many, many times but attorneys for our abusers no longer practice due diligence. They prefer to run up excessive attorney’s fees for which the requestor is always blamed."

"I was wondering if the Puccetti is kin to the family that runs or ran Sonny's place. I worked there in the late 80's and the place was the hang out for doctors and young lawyers. The county of Galveston is a Bubba Society. I grew up in Galveston County and can tell you that no one does anything for you unless you give them something. I don't just mean money. I watch Galveston screw any outsider who tried to bring business to the island."

"Alicia Cahill is the "Galveston information officer."   Chris Cahill is an attorney with Mills Shirley.

As far as the Galveston Park Board of Trustees is concerned, you can go down the list and realize how they were appointed to their unelected positions (Moody reps, Fertitta reps, Maceo reps, Mitchell reps, etc.).  Also, the real force behind the Park Board is their "Tourism Development Committee," which makes the important decisions.  That committee is two steps beyond the voters.  It reinforces the power of the families of Moody, Fertitta, Mitchell, Kempner and lower fish, such as Smecca, Sullivan, etc.

The unelected Wharves Board and Galveston Park Board of Trustees are infamously corrupt by obvious well-known conflicts of interest. 

The next mayor of Galveston will be Danny Weber.  It will never end, but at least someone (you) has finally come out with evidence of corruption.  I wish you could insert a daily 2-column x 1" ad in the newspaper with nothing but your website's address.  I'd donate $50/month for that.

Good luck.  Don't give up.  Thanks for the hard work and info!  You have to find some way to let the citizens of Galveston know that your site exists.  

Lou Muller, Executive Director of the Park Board used to be on city council in the mid-1980's and was the council's rep on the Park Board.  He revolve-doored into his current position."

"As a resident of Galveston, I wanted to express my gratitude for your hard work fighting corruption.

Enchanted with the Gulf of Mexico, my husband and I moved to the island 4 years ago. We have since realized, to our horror, that it is run by one of the most disgusting groups of people we've ever encountered. Everyone seems to be missing a moral chip - if there's a sleazy way to do something, they will find it.

I applaud your work, because there's no reason for Galveston to be in decline as it is. The truth makes free. I have written and made calls to city officials as you suggested."

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