Gordon Quan for Harris County Judge—Democrat for Harris County Judge, Houston, Texas.

Despite Promised Transparency, Emmett Conceals Occupations of Major Donors Whom do Significant Business with Harris County

In the wake of several Republican scandals within county government two years ago, County Judge Ed Emmett campaigned on a platform of transparency and ethical reform. But his recent campaign finance report is just the latest reminder that Emmett was anything but genuine in his stated desire to bring reform to Harris County government.

“From watering down his own ethics task force’s recommendations to failing to disclose the vocations of every single donor on his finance report, Ed Emmett has proven time and again that he can’t be trusted when it comes to government transparency and ethics,” said Gordon Quan. “This wasn’t some oversight; Ed Emmett wanted to make it more difficult for the public to see how much contractors with business before the county are dumping into his campaign.”

The contribution and expenditure report recently submitted by Harris County Judge Ed Emmett included several contributions from businessmen who have significant financial interests with the county. Media reports [1] indicate that there were tens of thousands of dollars in contributions from those individuals. None of those donors have their occupations listed in the field provided on the reporting form. In a statement released more than a year ago [2] Emmett sought to assure county residents that county officials and county government would “be as transparent as it can be.”

“We need a county judge who will give more than lip service to transparency in government,” said Quan.“What Harris County does not need is another career lobbyist and politician, like Ed Emmett, in charge. That’s like a fox guarding the henhouse.”

In July of last year the Harris County Commissioners Court received a report containing ethics reform recommendations from an ethics task force. The report from the task force included a list of principles for standards of conduct for county officials. The first principle listed was: “The public has entrusted us, as stewards of County time and resources, to exercise our public duties without the influence or appearance of influence of our private interests.” [3]

That list of principles was approved by commissioners court as part of an ethics reform package which also included voluntary lobbyist registration, immediate Web posting of all required personal and financial disclosure forms, adoption of a Statement of Ethics, establishment of a Harris County Ethics Committee, and implementation of employee ethics training. Though Emmett made ethics reform a major piece of his 2008 campaign, the majority of the task force recommendations have still not been acted upon [4].

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[1] Houston Chronicle 7/16/10
“Emmett’s list of donors is replete with construction industry players, many of whom do business with the county. Emmett received $45,000 just from Doug Pitcock, CEO of Williams Brothers Construction, which has built portions of the county’s toll road system. Construction company owner C.M. Garver, developer Bob Perry and construction company CEO George Pontikes and the Houston Contractors Political Action Committee each gave Emmett’s campaign $10,000.”

[2] Office of County Judge Ed Emmett Press Release 6/22/09
“I want county residents to rest assured that their employees and officials have the most up-to-date training and that their government is as transparent as it can be. It’s time for us to take this significant step forward.”

[3] League of Women Voters of the Houston Area Update on the Issues: Ethics Reform 9/2009
One of the attachments of the recommendations was a proposed set of ethical principles, which would apply to all county officers and employees. The principles are stated below:
“Certain broad principles apply to the standards of conduct that we expect from Harris County Personnel. Because all standards of conduct and behavior cannot be specified in advance, we have listed these principles as guidance for Personnel in the execution of their positions as public servants.
Specifically, we believe the following:

The public has entrusted us, as stewards of County time and resources, to exercise our public duties without the influence or appearance of influence of our private interests.

[4] Texas Democratic Party Press Release 2/11/10
http://www.txdemocrats.org/2010/02/11/what-you-can-expect-not-to-hear-in-harris-county/

Houston: The Indo-American Political Action committee on Sunday held a fundraiser for Gordon Quan, the Democratic nominee for Harris County judge.

IAPAC, the political voice of Indian-American Houston, had already a fundraiser for Republican nominee and incumbent Judge Ed Emmett.

IAPAC President Rameesh Anand and Board member and founding member Jagat Kamdar introduced Quan, a successful immigration attorney and former City Council member and Mayor Pro-Tem of Houston. They spoke about Quan, an immigrant himself, and his association with the South Asia community.

Businessman Ramesh Bhutada said he has known Quan for nearly three decades and was impressed by his honest and sincere work as well as professional ethics.

Quan, who is a partner at Foster Quan, the second largest immigration firm in the nation, explained the role of the judge in Harris County and said that the judge, who presides over the Commissioners Court, is largely an administrative post. The judge also acts as the spokesperson fro Harris County.

If elected, he said he would streamline the functioning of various departments, speed up the process of prison reforms and find a cure instead of a temporary fix for problems facing the county.

He said he was optimistic about his race due to the voter swing toward the Democratic Party as seen in the recent elections. This year, the turnout may be less, but [Quan] hopes to get 350,000 votes, the expected winning number.

A question and answer session followed. Quan was asked about the high tariffs on Harris County toll roads, compared to other toll roads in the nation. He promised to take up the issue with relevant authorities.

The fundraiser was attended by leaders of several Indian American organizations as well as members of the Small Independent Motel Owners Association (SIMA).

An impressive group of basketball legends gathered Tuesday night to support Gordon Quan for Harris County Judge. (more…)

Gordon Quan, Chair of the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 15, which will encompass the proposed location of the new Houston Dynamo stadium, today praised the actions of the Houston City Council and Harris County Commissioners Court in ratifying the agreement negotiated by Mayor Annise Parker and Commissioner El Franco Lee in developing the new home of the soccer team in East Downtown Houston. Quan has expressed his support for the project which will be financed by the T.I.R.Z he chairs. (more…)

Less than an hour after the polls closed, it’s apparent that Gordon Quan has won the Democratic nomination for county judge. He will face Republican incumbent Ed Emmett in November.

Quan easily outpaced Ahmad Hassan, who was also the runner-up in the 2008 Democratic primary, in early voting. (more…)

Ethics Reform Disappears from County Judge Ed Emmett’s Agenda

(Houston, TX) – As Republican County Judge Ed Emmett prepares to give his state of the county address today, Harris County residents can expect one thing to be missing – real ethics reform. Though Emmett made ethics a centerpiece of his 2008 campaign, promising to push for legislation requiring lobbyists to register with the county and close the revolving door, he has failed to follow through on his promises and deliver meaningful reform, instead passing the blame to the State Legislature. (more…)

Candidate for Harris County Judge spoke with Lisa Baldwin for KPRC Local 2 about the significance of the Chinese New Year.

Here’s the video: KPRC Local 2

Democracy For Houston met tonight to consider endorsements in the 2010 Democratic Primary for Harris County, Texas, endorsing Gordon Quan in his campaign for Harris County Judge. (more…)

This week I have interviews with the two Democratic candidates for Harris County Judge. First up is former Houston City Council member Gordon Quan. Quan has lived in Harris County since his family came here from China in 1951, when he was 3. He is an immigration attorney with the firm Foster & Quan, served as Mayor Pro Tem while on Council, has been the Chair of the Asian Chamber of Commerce, and has a master’s in education in addition to his law degree. On a personal note, Quan was a friend of my late uncle Ken Kuffner, and my cousin Kate worked for him while he was on Council. Here’s the interview: (more…)

Former Houston City Councilman Gordon Quan entered the race for Harris County judge on Tuesday by signing papers in front of supporters at a Midtown restaurant.

Though Quan must win the Democratic nomination in March for the county’s highest-ranking elective office, he acknowledged that he is already looking toward a November face-off with Republican incumbent Ed Emmett.

(more…)