Ron Price's Campaign Falls $14,000 Short
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Fri, 09/14/2007 - 09:00.
UPDATE: Price Claims Accounting Error (read the story)
UPDATE: Price threatens lawsuit on Channel 8 (interview here)
FLASHBACK: Price Falsifies Campaign Report
Two and 1/2 years after Dallas Independent School District Trustee Ron Price received $25,000 from now indicted former Micro Systems Engineering Chairman Frankie Wong and two of Wong's associates, Price's campaign financials are coming up over $14,000 short.
Price's campaign account has consistently been coming up short and his balance has not matched his contributions and expenditures since July, 2005.
Texas Ethics Commission rules, and election laws, were changed in 2004 to require elected officials to report balances carried forward in addition to reporting contributions and expenditures. Election laws also require campaign funds to be held in a separate bank account from the officeholder's personal account.
In 2004, a year prior to receiving the $25,000 contribution from Wong and his associates, Price reported receiving no contributions, nor did he report making any expenditures.
The following table details Price's:
- Contributions: the amount, reported by Price, he received into his campaign account
- Expenditures: the amount, reported by Price, he spent from his campaign account
- Retained: the amount, reported by Price, remaining in his account at the end of the reporting period
- Should have: (running total) how much Price should have had by summing contributions less expenditures
- Difference: the amount Price's campaign was over or under what it should have had
Clicking on each date will display the associated report (requires the free Adobe PDF viewer).
| Report Date | Contributions | Expenditure | Retained | Should Have | Difference |
| 1/15/04 | $0.00 | $0.00 | not required | ||
| 7/15/04 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 1/15/05 | $25,000.00 | $7,750.00 | $17,250.00 | $17,250.00 | $0.00 |
| 7/15/05 | $0.00 | $3,600.00 | $13,931.27 | $13,650.00 | $281.27 |
| 1/15/06 | $3,350.00 | $5,968.83 | $11,312.44 | $11,031.17 | $281.27 |
| 30-Day '06 | $7,962.44 | $5,167.67 | $2,794.77 | $13,825.94 | -$11,031.17 |
| 8-Day '06 | $6,294.77 | $4,597.26 | $1,294.77 | $15,523.45 | -$14,228.68 |
| 7/15/06 | $0.00 | $1,600.00 | $2,794.00 | $13,923.45 | -$11,129.45 |
| 1/15/07 | $1,294.77 | $750.00 | $544.77 | $14,468.22 | -$13,923.45 |
| 7/15/07 | $400.00 | $400.00 | $235.00 | $14,468.22 | -$14,233.22 |
| TOTALS | $44,301.98 |
$29,833.76 |
$14,468.22 |
-$14,233.22 |
The only contributions Price reported receiving in January, 2005, were three large checks: $10,000 from Frankie Wong, then head of Houston-based Micro Systems Engineering, $10,000 from Frank Trifilio, and $5,000 Larry Lehman.
Together, they totaled $25,000.
Both Lehman and Trifilio were affiliated with Acclaim Professional Services--a subcontractor for Wong's company.
At the time, Price said Wong gave him the money because "he's a great guy, and I'm a good guy."
In 2004 and 2005, Price chaired the trustee's "business briefing committee" which dealt with, among other things, the school district's technology contracts.
Wong's company held a lucrative contract, known as an "E-Rate" contract to provide DISD with computers and other technology equipment.
Price told the Dallas Morning News, in 2005, he did not recall discussing Wong's company or its $369 million dollars in contracts in his committee.
In May of this year Wong, along with former DISD executive Ruben Bohuchot and former associate superintendent William Coleman, were indicted for allegedly creating an elaborate scheme whereby federal technology grant money was funneled to private bank accounts.
Neither Trifilio nor Lehman have been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the scheme.
At the time the Dallas Morning News exposed the relationship, in 2005, that ultimately led to the indictments, Price defended Bohuchot and Wong claiming the two were victims of disgruntled competitors.
Price has, for years, been self-employed as an "education consultant."
In 2005, Price bought and operated Pizano's Pizza Parlor at 6214 Samuell Boulevard. The establishment closed its doors several months later.
This is not Price's first problem with his campaign financials. In 2004, Price was fined $500 by the Texas Ethics Commission for filing late reports.
Price's Accounting
So, are you implying the money is missing, or it isn't accounted for? In other words, did he have a bad bookkeeper, or did he take the money and can't say what happened to it?
And, you know, most people don't know what can or what cannot be done with campaign funds. Can he give it to other campaigns, use it to pay other bills, etc.?
[Ed Note: Texas Election Code lays out the rules for maintaining one's campaign finances. The Texas Ethics Commission enforces them, civilly, and the District Attorney looks into criminal activity. As far as what happened in his report, only Ron knows (if anyone knows).
Campaign funds can be used for virtually anything (but there are some restrictions). The catch is, you must report it during the particular period when it happened.]
Price And Cookie Jars
I saw the interview today on TXCN.
When asked if it was an "accounting error" or embezzlement, Price stumbled for words, then got defensive and threatened to sue.
I guess at this stage, he's going to have to find a loop-hole to recoup the money he stole!
Looks like someone got caught with his hands in the cookie jar!
[Ed Note: It will be interesting to see how he tries to get himself out of this one.]
WFAA clip
Can you post a link to that interview? Many of us teachers were working late this week, and did not see the news. We don't have our own accountants, you see.
[Ed Note: Yes, it is at the top of the article.]
Price's Accounting Error
Imagine that! It was an accounting error that he never looked at and this fellow is on the school board?
Imagine how many things he has voted for or against and never looked at.
Playing like your dumb when you're not reflects poorly on you, Mr. Price. Shame on you!
[Ed Note: Yes, good point. Does this guy really know what he votes for or against?]
Price's Accounting Methods
So now the blame, according to Mr. Price, is with his "accountant" or did he say "accountant(s)"?
Buffoonery.
Less than twenty entries on a campaign reporting statement to the state of Texas, shouldn't require an "accountant", much less "accountant(s)".
Time for Mr. Price to come up with some receipts, and most definitely find a new "accountant" or "accountants" or perhaps a lawyer or lawyer(s).
Can Mr. Price use his campaign funds to sue Channel 8?
Are there enough funds present for him to pursue litigation?
Maybe he could start a seperate legal defense fund?
Where is Frankie Wong when you need him?
Outstanding work Dallas.Org!
[Ed Note: Yes, you can use your campaign funds for a lawyer. It's certainly questionable, however, whether any of these funds actually remain.]
Price's Accounting Methods
During the calendar year 2005, Ron Price received a total of $25,000.00 in campaign donations - ALL of this money came from, either Frankie Wong or two friends and/or business associates of Mr. Wong.
None of these three "public spirited" citizens either live in Dallas County nor do they have children who attend DISD schools.
1)Mr. Price, at the time, sat and chaired (I believe) a DISD committee that decides, among other things, who gets the district's technology business.
2)Mr. Price's "2005 - $25,000" is, in size, more than three times the amount of any other donation he received in any of the four years reporting periods reflected in the article. In fact, Mr. Price's "$25,000" represents more than 56% of all the donations he recorded in the state mandated reporting periods of 2004,'05,'06,'07.
3)Mr. Wong's $10k certainly is a large enough contribution that would land him in any candidate for President of the United States', "Platinum" or "InnerCircle" level of contributors. Yet, Mr. Wong chose to give that amount to a Dallas school board member, who happened to be one of the decision makers on who gets the district's technology contracts. I would assume the other two contributors would have to suffice with either "Gold" or Pretty Close to InnerCircle" status.
4)Mr. Wong's technology company, did in fact, receive a multi-million dollar technology contract from DISD, preapproved by the committe that Mr. Price sat on.
IMPLICATIONS?
Did Mr. Price, in fact, sell his vote for $25,000? Who knows.
Has Mr. Price, in fact, violated Texas campaign contribution reporting laws? Your guess is as good as mine.
Could a reasonable man recognize feathers on the duck path between a $25,000 campaign contribution to a local school board member and a multi-million dollar contract? Quack, Quack.
[Ed Note: I don't think that Price's committee had as much influence over the contract as, perhaps, Price would have liked to have thought it did. The purchase decisions were made by the staff--then approved by the entire Board. Also, in Wong's defense, the contract was a pretty good deal for the District. It is just that it could have been a better deal if some of the profits hadn't been diverted into certain public officials' pockets!]
Needed: School Fraud Prosecutor
As those of us who have fought principals stealing activity fund money, grade and attendance fraud, and the example of Ron Price's strange accounting methods can testify, we need a state level office of school corruption who will prosecute these cases away from the watchful eyes of DISD or the local politicos who have controlled even the FBI in Dallas.
Cases that should have been prosecuted simply disappear or attorneys are given some of the money that leaks out of DISD when it wants people and issues to go away.
For instance, why can't all taxpayers in Texas demand that the money stolen out of DISD through the extremely deceptive use of Walmart gift cards be prosecuted?
Title I funds are the result of income taxes from Texas citizens redistributed back to DISD. Why can't federal taxpayers expect these crimes to be prosecuted?
Maybe we need civil attorneys in Dallas who wish to specialize in class action suits against the presiding superintendent, board members, and the actual thief to repay the stolen money.
These attorneys could make their living by simply suing on behalf of Dallas taxpayers and splitting the proceeds with those who wish to sign up.
Instead, we have a school district with an annual schedule of corruption over the last 35 years, and we have to wait for a superintendent to decide if he wishes to pursue legal action.
Let me respond to that: THESE CROOKS DIDN'T STEAL THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PRIVATE PURSE. They steal the money of "We the People." It's time the state of Texas removes the right to prosecute away from DISD. I'm quite sure next week will come and go, and we will see some of our Walmart gift card recipients right back in their old jobs gratis the same political climate of corruption that brought us the P-card scandal.
[Ed Note: Actually, we just need a district attorney or a county attorney who will prosecute politicians. Then this kind of thing will stop. Also, one thing to keep in mind is that these are voluntary contributions--not tax money so, unless you contributed something, you're not out anything. Still, the law is the law.]
DISD "Bunko" Squad?
Actually, we need a bunko squad and a DA that will arrest and prosecute corruption in DISD.
From one who has filed with TEA, DA and DPD and has been told even should all the evidence in world point to a conviction, one has to find someone who will take on the DISD and big business for they have the deepest pockets and will spend, spend, spend to keep the jobs, contracts, and connections.
Corruption in this district is what is keeping our children from a decent education by driving away good teachers and principals who do not wish to work for and with criminals.
I can remember years and years ago before I put 3 children through DISD of the scandals involving Sangers and/or Neimans theft with DISD employees buying and selling stolen merchandise from car trunks. Some of the names are still on the payroll. If I am not mistaken, some were even elected trustees.
[Ed Note: Remember things like this when the bond election rolls around! That's the proper time to send a vote of "no confidence."]
Recall Election
Voting no on a bond issue might send a message, but look at the real victims. Our physical infrastructure would soon resemble that of the New Orleans school district before Katrina--so far beyond repair that we would never catch up on repairing it. Then, of course, the children and their teachers would have to deal with aging infrastructure and crowded conditions while the superintendent and board members build themselves a brand new place to meet.
Better yet, we could lobby the state legislature for the right to recall board members. Then, when the annual theft party occurs with no response by them or the superintendent, the petitions to remove the board could be circulated. New board and new superintendent who might be much more willing to listen to the public.
This superintendent seems to be following the pathway set by Rod Paige. Win the Broad Award based on cheating and make a fast exit to Washington before anyone finds out.
[Ed Note: We'll keep the pressure on!]
Here's Your "Deep Pocketed Bunko Squad"
At least in one case, you may have found a champion for your cause with unlimited resources - the United States Department of Justice, the FBI, the IRS, and the FCC.
Keep the pressure on, keep hounding them, and supporting with your readership sites like Dallas.Org
[Ed Note: One big problem with law enforcement is that they're overwhelmed (especially the Feds). This is way low on their list of priorities. Ironically, if they'd go after the smaller stuff before it gets to be big stuff... well, you get the idea!]
The IRS Could Help
Since the DISD and Gen Sup Hinojosa do not seem to want to collect on fradulent P-card charges, perhaps they could send 1099's to the culprits.
No proper accounting = extra income.
The same could hold true for poor record keeping in campaign finances.
Let the IRS collect income taxes on those amounts.
And as for the proposed bond election....NO Shackles - No Bonds!
[Ed Note: Actually, they are going after many (if not most) of the violators. But you're right. Are you listening, IRS guys?]
Ron Prices's Campaign Shortfalls
Don't mean to sound like CNN's Lou Dobbs - but the intelligence of the people who keep electing Ron Price to DISD's Board must soon be brought into question.
It's not his fault from here on out - it's the voters in his district; what appears to be a feudal fifedom.
Find a priest to run, a mailman or an honest grocery clerk. Anyone with an ounce of integrity would be better than this nightmare of a public official.
Every day this man stays in office should be an embarrassment to each and every one of us.
[Ed Note: Ron has been involved in a number of questionable acts. There seems to me no consequence for his actions.
I wrote an editorial a while back, "Purple Skies" which may be apropos.]
How Does Price Continue...
How does Ron Price continue to get away with things like this? I assume there are laws that cover this sort of thing?
[Ed Note: There are laws that cover campaign finance. These would be good questions to ask the District Attorney.]