EXCLUSIVE: Big Trouble in Chambers County, Texas

Liberty Dispatch has learned that a public law firm, Lone Star Legal Aid, is looking into the manner in which Chambers County is handling the distribution of CBDG funds which are intended to help qualified citizens of Chambers County with housing issues and to recover from the hurricane devastation of September 2008. Most counties in the area are well on their way to distributing these funds to their citizens in need, but scandal ridden Chambers County is way behind the rest. The distribution of these funds is being handled by Ms. Sarah Cerrone of the Chambers County Office of Community Development.

Lone Star Legal Aid is questioning the actions of Ms. Sarah Cerrone and her office in regards to how the application process has been handled. First of all, the forms used by Ms. Cerrone and her office are not satisfactory to meet the needs of the CBDG program. Also, the personal and private information contained in those forms has, allegedly, been compromised in that Ms. Cerrone has allowed outside parties to gather and retain said information for their on personal gain. Two other individuals who are being complained about are none other than Mark and Darlene Pagels who have been connected with several schemes to personally profit from the Ike relief effort. Facts surrounding the background of the Pagels appear extremely troubling and the subject of attorney investigator's interest. The collusion between the Pagels and Cerrone are well documented and this investigation will delay the implementation of the CBDG program in Chambers County.

Liberty Dispatch insists on a thorough investigation of these allegations and asks whether or not a third party should be allowed to come in and administrate these funds.

We have all seen for weeks the poor behavior of elected and county officials and how they try to stonewall any investigation and retaliate against anyone who asks the questions. It is our belief that good always prevails over evil and the only question is... Will the wrong doers will be brought to justice and when? It is important to note that any CBDG funds not used for housing will be kept by the County to be used for infrastructure.

Are you beginning to see the big picture?

We make one prediction...next week either Darlene Pagels or Theresa Barrett will write in the Anahuac Progress how there is 'nothing to these allegations'. We guess that's just how things roll in Chambers County.

We will be updating this story as it unfolds. We have also received several inquiries from national media outlets due to the vast allegations of corruption in this county. Remember that it was Liberty Dispatch who first broke the story about the FEMA clean-up contracts in Chambers County and Liberty County. We will continue to report the truth at whatever the cost because Chambers County citizens deserve to know the truth.

As of last week, attorneys have notified Chambers County of their legal intent and have stated... "We intend to do a lengthy and very invasive investigation of all related facts".

The resulting legal investigation and discovery should make the illegal behavior by those in the Chambers County Courthouse and civil conspirators, crystal clear.

Current Liberty Politics

Reliable sources have indicated to Liberty Dispatch that every Democratic officeholder that did not have looming legal problems or a yellow dog ultra partisan reputation was asked in November of 2009 to consider switching parties and distancing themselves from what almost seems like systemic bad behavior in the courthouse over the last decade.

As we know now, the only two Democrats that switched and ran in the Republican Party were the only two on record voicing concern over the most recent alleged unethical and illegal behavior. 253rd District Judge Chap Cain expressed his concern and perhaps his frustration with the mismanagement and possible illegal use of FEMA funds face to face with County Judge Phil Fitzgerald in Commissioner’s Court. That confrontation of the good ole boy system and Cain’s courage to risk his re-election by switching parties was rewarded by Republican primary voters giving him an almost two to one victory in his first Republican primary. Fitzgerald's and CT Hight's play to take Chap Cain down with candidate, Michelle Merendino was futile and sophomoric. This act was almost as futile as the mail tampering allegedly done by Merendino, CT Hight and Fitzgerald against our judge, Chap Cain.

The other candidate switching parties, Commissioner Norman Brown, won in numbers similar to Judge Cain’s in his first Republican primary. Brown, though he still has not made as strong a stance or revealed the kind of specifics of wrongdoing as Judge Cain, added his two cents on the behavior in the courthouse by suggesting the Commissioners’ Court do some things to promote and insure ethics. Some Republicans who have not been fans of Brown have held their nose as he joined their party and are said Brown should do more to clean up what he has been all around than just make suggestions. Nevertheless, whether Brown comes forward and blows a louder more helpful whistle that helps to clean up some of the mess in the courthouse, he is the only other candidate to distance himself from what has become known as a dirty courthouse. Brown however has a well known well liked challenger in November as he faces Leroy Hanel.

It is important to note that our sources tell us retiring County Court at Law Judge Don Taylor has been “very concerned” about revelations that have come to light in the courthouse. Judge Taylor may have been a third party switcher had he decided to seek re-election. His disgust with the way people were taking care of the people’s business was well known, but since his pending retirement was also well known we will never know how he would have reacted to a proposal of running as a Republican. Instead, Assistant County Attorney Tommy Chambers decided he would run as a Republican. Chambers came within a whisker’s edge of running for County Attorney as a Republican last election cycle, and voters can only surmise that Fitzgerald’s behavior along with some of the difficult positions he was put in as a result of courthouse politics, helped him to decide it was a good time to distance himself and run like he wanted to before (as a conservative). Sources tell us that Democrats plan on attaching their own ethical problems to Chambers as the November general election grows closer. How successful Chamber’s opponent will be in making look like someone who has embraced being just one of the good ole boys will probably depend on how successfully he can distance himself from his close family ties to three men Liberty County politicians who served during the time of this systematic spirally down of Liberty’s ethical reputation.

So when we say every Democratic officeholder that did not have looming legal problems or a yellow dog ultra partisan reputation was asked in November of 2009 to consider switching parties and distancing themselves from what almost seems like systemic bad behavior in the courthouse over the last decade, we also are assuming the way those who were never considered and never asked have a plan to win election or re-election. In political circles it is called “scorched earth”.

How do you get past the fact that Democratic officeholders did nothing while every scandal that has gone on in the courthouse has been discovered by outside sources and there has been no whistle blowing? How does that not get all over every Democratic candidate and look like a culture of corruption? Easy, Democrats prepare their own charges of misconduct. To counter Phil Fitzgerald receiving a great leasing deal for his dump trucks from a man connected to hi by family and one connected to him because he gave him the FEMA contract, by saying the Dayton Mayor let locals get contracts with no bid too. Never mind Mayor Stevens had no dump truck leasing situation that funneled money back to him.

Some may say Democrats have a problem with this scorched earth strategy because none of the Republicans on the November ballot are incumbents or officeholders, but that will not slow them down. They will undoubtedly try and attach Assistant County Attorney Tommy Chambers to the Glen Vickery’s DUI scandal. Never mind that Chambers was serving and doing the bidding of then outgoing Democratic County Attorney Jack Hartel and never mind Chambers wisely wrote in to his dealing with these cases an option to refile, the Zbranek’s old style Chicago like politics will cover the airwaves with the idea that this is a scandal that should force voters to vote for Zack.

Republicans were excited primary night to embrace District Judge Chap Cain as an indication of not only his, but the voters’ desire to raise the standards of this county. He took a clear and bold stand and voters stood with him election night. It is as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow that Democrats still have a plan to win. Only two candidates switched and only one retired (and he had planned on retiring), so the rest are preparing for the politics of election time. But this election, just like the last one, no matter what mudslinging goes on it is now incorrect to say “I am just going to vote in the Democratic primary, the Republican can not win locally.” This time it will be awful tempting to send a message about our courthouse, as well as the White House, and vote straight ticket and refuse to stand by those who will not help end the corruption.

More Amazing Numbers

I keep looking at side by side Republican and Democrat numbers from the Primary Election and I remain amazed at the mind-set change of Liberty County Voters. The fact that Liberty County has flipped from being a heavy duty democrat stronghold to a majority of voters embracing the Conservative message is absolutely amazing.

The thing that voters and candidates cannot deny is that a positive media outlet is one of the most important tools that the Republican Party can employ. If anyone doubts the power of the internet to communicate a political message, then apparently they don’t understand the Primary Numbers that I have been posting on Liberty Dispatch.

By the way, as far as I am concerned Liberty Dispatch carries the same Liberty County Media weight as any of the newspapers, blogs, or radio stations. Does anyone really think that a small town candidate like me could have ascended to the Chairmanship of the Liberty County

Republican Party without taking advantage of the huge readership of Liberty Dispatch? Don’t listen to the bitterness that is apparently running rampant. Don’t let a small group of people who are hell bent on causing division use you for their small minded political objectives.

Republican candidates you can embrace this new form of communication and get your message out or you can stick with the same old tired Democrat Leaning Media and lose. I encourage you to take advantage of Liberty Dispatch’s wide spread readership.

The following is a scenario that could have happened if the Chairpersons of each Party would have had a head-up election:

.………………………………(R)votes…………………….(D)votes
Box 1 Rye…………………….....58…………………………...30
Box 2 Moss Hill………………..118………………………….40
Box 3 Hardin…………………..207……………………….…48
Box 4 Devers…………………...71…………………………...60
Box 5 Liberty……………….…..80…………………………..29
Box 6 Moss Bluff……………....87…………………………...19
Box 7 Cleveland………………..75……………………………28
Box 8/32 Tarkington…….....140…………………………..47
Box 9 Tarkington………...…..170…………………………..73
Box 10 Dayton…………….…...173…………………………..28
Box 11 Raywood…………….....32……………………………96
Box 12 Cleveland……………….71……………………………23
Box 13 Daisetta…………………66……………………….……62
Box 14 Eastgate………………...52……………………………25
Box 15 Romayor………………..51……………………………30
Box 16 Dolen………………….....30……………………………16
Box 17 Hull…………………….....73…………………………..49
Box 18 Ames………………….....17…….………………….....69
Box 19 Liberty…………………..98.…………………….…….36
Box 20 Cleveland………….......02…...………………….….46
Box 21 Kenefick……………… 238…….……………….…....35
Box 22 Dayton………………...158….....…………………....48
Box 23 Plum Grove……….....110…………………………...17
Box 24 Dayton……………….....98..……………………….…29
Box 25/34 Tarkington………..57.………………………….38
Box 26 Dayton………………....135….………………….……27
Box 27/33 Cleveland………...118…….…………………….32
Box 28/35/36 Liberty………152…………………………...31
Box 29 Dayton……………….....46…….………………….….14
Box 30 Dayton……………….....59……………………………12
Box 31 Dayton……………….....90….………………………...31
Totals…………………………..5104………………………....1745

Out of 6849 total votes 5104 were Republicans. Also if you look real close, you will find that the Democrat Chairman would have only won 3 Boxes out of the 36 that were represented.

Liberty County Republican Chairman Elect: Andy McCreight

Brand Press Release

Political ad paid for by Marcus Brand for Commissioner Campaign, Sine Brand Treasure



Shock and Awe

2010 ELECTION

The Shock and Awe Liberty County Republican Party has left democrats from all areas of the county with mouths gaping and wandering around lost and in a daze.

The voting numbers indicate that the voters of Liberty County have had enough of the Party of Pelosi, Reid, and Obama. The voting numbers tell us a story of “Enough is Enough!” The Citizenry of Liberty County has raised the Battle Cry of “The Party of NO is the Party of GO”! The People of Liberty County have voiced their opinions and the message is “Please Mr. Obama-Could You Spare Some Change?”

THE AWE AND SHOCK OF LIBERTY COUNTY VOTING NUMBERS!

Republican Votes Democrat Votes

Governor:

5980 2285

75th District Judge:

4102 0

253rd District Judge:

5704 0

County Judge:

5356 2229

Commissioner PCT 2:

1538 656

Commissioner PCT 4:

1707 313

County Court at Law:

4305 1861

District Clerk:

4017 1855

County Clerk:

4088 1945

County Treasurer:

4390 1640

JP #1:

865 0

JP #4:

1985 416

JP #5:

745 415

JP #6:

584 328

Liberty County Republican Party it is OK to celebrate the election results that made the Earth Stand Still for this moment in time in the history of Liberty County Politics…But don’t become over confident!

Over the next few months leading up to the General Election we must continue to demonstrate the difference between the Two Political Parties in our Country.

On the one hand is a Republican Party that believes in Self –Determination, Less Government, and a Strong National Defense.

On the other hand (the left hand) is the Party that wants to dominate the lives of the citizenry from the cradle to the grave.

Tell the voters of Liberty County where you stand politically. Tell them that you are building a conservative edifice and they will break down the political walls of the democrat stronghold on Liberty County as they mark an X next to your name on the ballot come November.

KINGWOOD DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR LIBERTY COUNTY JUDGE

Democratic candidate for County Judge, Ken Morrison, recently won the Democrat nomination for Liberty County Judge with very impressive numbers. Since many of us are yet to meet one person who knew Morrison, most will interpret his victory as the voters rejecting his opponent, current County Judge Phil Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is reportedly under investigation for the way FEMA money went to people closely associated with him and how some of it went to leasing trucks that belong to him. As impressive as Morrison’s primary victory was, it is obvious that Fitzgerald’s numbers in the Democratic primary were a great deal higher than what he would have garnered if Republicans could have weighed in.

But for some the question may still be: Will the voters get another chance to vote for Phil Fitzgerald in the general election? Rumors explained that Fitzgerald’s lackluster campaign was evidence that the County Judge intended on filing suit to disqualify Morrison from the outset. Other rumors include the possibility that Morrison would be disqualified when he appeared before longtime political ally, District Judge C. T. “Rusty” Hight.

Absent any dirty tricks, Morrison’s eligibility to run should be based on residency requirements and Texas law. Morrison has been telling people he lives in a travel trailer on land he owns in the Eastgate area, but a growing number of people have discovered that Morrison’s trailer gets water from a neighbor and is not even connected to sewer. This kind of information may make it difficult for Morrison to become the chief executive officer of the county, but it still may not disqualify according to state law.

In Morrison’s lame attempt to sound like this is the only house he owns, he explains that he does spend some of his time at his wife’s house in Kingwood. Interesting arrangement to be claiming with his wife… it is “his wife’s house” … they don’t live together but are married?

Morrison has been vague when questioned about whether he meets the minimum requirement of living in the county for six-months. This whole thing is quite a murky smelly situation for someone whose main claim as evidence to live here is his participation as a music leader in a small Baptist church on the Kingwood side of the county.

As far as we know he has not been asked if he has ever been to a Dayton Bronco football game, or if he even knows the school colors. We are not sure if he has any longtime friendships here, or even why he came to the county. What we do know is he wants to come into the county and start at the top and run the county just forty miles or so from “his wife’s house” in Kingwood.

But don’t count the Kingwood candidate out. If he can dodge any lawsuits Fitzgerald and Hight may or may not have cooked up, he may have a candidate greatly weakened by the public’s weariness of FEMA questions. We may almost all be assured that a candidate living in a trailer in Eastgate with no sewage and water hooked up to a neighbor’s house will have no FEMA investigators clouding his image.

Fitzgerald not running a campaign doomed any chance he has of winning in the general election. If that was a strategy he came up with then he only has himself to blame because of the thousands of people who voted in the primaries few will change their minds and return in November to vote for Fitzgerald. Whoever came up with this idea the only possible result will be Phil Fitzgerald’s chances of being re-elected being as close to zero as possible. It could be that Hight and Archer decided this was the best way to get a self righteous Fitzgerald to go quietly. Encourage the idea of not running against Morrison and then act as if they are being forced to drop the idea of disqualifying Morrison.

They allegedly plan to use Phil Fitzgerald to file a suit in CT Hight's District court to disqualify Morrison, then throw Phil under the bus and substitute him for a yet unknown dark horse candidate.


NOTE: County Judge Candidate, Steve Stevens should be presumed innocent until he is proven guilty of a crime.

Creepy politics. Creepy politicians.

Contributor, Ray Akins
 
"Conservative Liberty County Texas news. All material on this website is copyrighted and the property of Liberty Dispatch ONLY unless otherwise agreed or indicated."