We have obtained some of the finance disclosure reports submitted by individuals who were involved in some of the more contested races of the 2007 Woodlands’ elections.
It became apparent during the days leading up to the election that two races stood out in terms of dollars spent. These two races were the Woodlands Community Association’s (WCA) at large position #14 and the WCA’s Cochran’s Crossing position #11.
According to the finance disclosure reports, in those two races, three people (Bruce Tough - $5,052, Walter Cooke - $7,576, Joe Merrill - $1,062) spent more than $1,000 on their campaigns. Of those same three individuals, two reported receiving campaign contributions (Bruce Tough - $5,176, Walter Cooke - $7,904).
Breaking it down to a cost per vote basis produces the following:
Bruce Tough - $5,052/595 votes = $8.49 per vote
Walter Cooke - $7,576/808 votes = $9.37 per vote
Joe Merrill - $1,062/393 votes = $2.70 per vote
It was noted that the finance disclosure reports were not consistently filled out. For example, Mr. Tough and Mr. Cooke both filled out pre-election and post-election finance reports. In one case it seems the pre-election report totals were included in the post-election report. In the other case it appears the reports were treated as separate independent reports. Evidently, there was confusion in regards to filling out the finance disclosure reports by some of the candidates.
Remember that the election is wholly run by a private company (the Woodlands Community Service Corporation - WCSC). Therefore, no state laws concerning public elections are applicable.
Also remember that the directors who are elected to The Woodlands’ boards (TWA, WCA) are not directly compensated.
Why would someone spend over $7,500 to win a spot on a homeowners’ association that is unpaid?
Related Information
2007 Pre and Post-Election Finance Disclosure Form - Bruce Tough
2007 Pre and Post-Election Finance Disclosure Form - Walter Cooke
2007 Pre and Post-Election Finance Disclosure Form - Joe Merrill
Am I in the Wrong Country?
April 16, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
I see that Tommy Williams spent $2,000.00, $1K to Tough and $1K to Cooke, to help them win their elections.
Was that a contribution or an investment?
Well, Cooke should fit right in with the current board since he has the over spending part of their duties down.
April 18, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
Obviously, having Cooke and Tough on the board is in the best interest of Tommy Williams. Tommy always looks out first for Tommy.
Why isn’t Joe’s Disclosure form online?
April 18, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
Hiya C.F.
We originally did not post Joe’s report because the dollar amount mentioned in the blog was really all that was contained in the report. There were no contributions associated with his report.
Since you asked about the report we have now posted it above, under the Related Information section at the end of the blog.
Of course, with limited resources we are not able to post every document that we obtain through the public information act. Therefore some decisions have to be made about what is and what is not published.
Since we did include information from the report in the initial blog, Joe’s report probably should have been included in the initial post.
April 23, 2007 @ 7:34 am
I don’t understand how CF can ask for info and it’s just provided with no questions asked.
Shouldn’t forms need to be filled out? No multiple emails that go unanswered? No postage spent on certified letters? How are the Board of Directors of the world suppose to make up things to do if we don’t make everything complicated?
Great job Foz!