Agriculture appointees connected to waived political fees

[TexasTowelie]

A political consultant for Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller donated nearly $40,000 worth of his services to the candidate during the Stephenville Republican’s run for the office last year — and then was appointed to a $180,000-a-year job Miller created when he took office.

A second political consultant donated $76,000 worth of his services during Miller’s campaign, even though he was experiencing personal financial stress at the time. His wife was appointed to another newly created $180,000-a-year job when Miller took office.

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/agriculture-appointees-connected-to-waived-politic/nknMc/ (subscription required)

[font color=green]In the business world this is known as ROI--return on investment. It looks like these consultants gambled and received a much higher payout than would be found at the race track.[/font]

[TexasTowelie]

1. Another article from about one week ago:

Sid Miller's appointments include campaign consultant's wife

AUSTIN, Texas — Newly elected Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller appointed the wife of his longtime political consultant and business partner to one of the highest-paid positions in his agency, part of a restructuring that has added several expensive executive positions to the agency.

The Austin American-Statesman (http://atxne.ws/1EV2elF ) reports that Kellie Housewright-Smith was named a member of Miller's transition team on Nov. 17 at a pay rate of $13,750 per month, according to personnel records obtained under Texas open records laws. Her husband is Todd Smith, who has worked on all of Miller's state political campaigns.

Corporation filings at the Texas secretary of state's office also show that Miller and Smith have been partners in business together. Both men are listed as officers of PeerProf LLC, incorporated in 2010, and E Communication Advantage, a political phone bank company started in 2008.

Six weeks after hiring her, Miller promoted Housewright-Smith to assistant commissioner, a newly created executive position just below the elected commissioner. Her salary was $180,000 a year, records show — the third-highest in the agency, and considerably more than Miller's $137,500 annual paycheck.

More at http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/texas/sid-millers-appointments-include-campaign-consulta/nkhrT/ .

[hobbit709]

2. Kleptocracy is alive and well in TX