Tagged: Jim House

May 10, 2012

Why I Can’t Support White County Judge Lincoln

The good folks here at The Arkansas Patriot asked me to write a column giving my opinion on the judge’s race in White County. I agreed, and this is the result.

Before we go too far, let me state all of the following for the record: I voted for Michael Lincoln in 2006 and again in 2008.

When his opponent in 2006 complained about losing, I wrote a letter to the editor of The Daily Citizen defending Judge Lincoln. I am in no way opposed to the man personally, but he began making policy related decisions in 2009 that were questionable at best and contemptible in some instances, and in 2010 I voted against him.

Let’s look at some of the policy decisions that Judge Lincoln has made:

In 2009 & 2010, Judge Lincoln supported Belinda LaForce’s efforts to impose an A&P tax and A&P commission on the city of Searcy without voter approval. Judge Lincoln has recently complained about city taxes being terrible because county residents pay them while only the city gets to spend the money. This is a different tune than the one he sang just two short years ago.

Judge Lincoln’s support of a tax in the city of Searcy was so strong that when a very peaceful TEA party protest was held at the courthouse square in Searcy on April 5, 2010 (attended by our current Lieutenant Governor as well as several other candidates for statewide offices), Judge Lincoln called both the Searcy police and the White County Sheriff’s office and attempted to convince them to remove the protestors. Continue reading →

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October 20, 2011

White County Judge Going Before State Ethics Commission

Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., White County Judge Mike Lincoln will be called to testify before the Arkansas Ethics Commission. The commission’s staff attorney has been conducting an investigation since early September.

The investigation was prompted by a complaint that I filed in my capacity as Chairman of Citizens for Responsible Taxation, alleging improper use of taxpayer funds to promote the county’s proposed tax increase. I announced the complaint filing on local radio last month. Specifically, the complaint asks the commission to make a ruling on the hiring of Mr. Jim House to promote the tax increase with taxpayer money & to determine if any promotional materials were produced out of the judge’s office, as stated in the text of Mr. House’s contract.

From what I have been told, the investigation has not turned up any evidence of promotional materials being published out of the courthouse, but the payments to Mr. House are a violation of state law because the expenditures were not reported to the commission & the public. The commission is expected to rule in this manner, likely resulting in a fine.

I will share more information as it becomes available.

Nic Horton

September 1, 2011

Citizens Group Calls on White County Quorum Court to Freeze “Economic Development” Spending

Calls Promotion of Tax Increase with Taxpayer Money “Immoral”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 1, 2011

CONTACT:

Nicholas Horton

BypassTaxes@Gmail.com

(501)-827-2184

Searcy, AR – Citizens for Responsible Taxation, a watchdog group in White County that formed to oppose the Searcy Bypass Tax hike, is denouncing the misuse of taxpayer funds regarding the county’s new “Economic Development Liaison.”

“Quite simply, the county judge’s office is using taxpayer money to promote the tax increase proposal. Voters want it to stop,” CRT Chairman Nicholas Horton said.

“Taxpayers are having their own money used against them and, quite frankly, wasted. These actions to promote the tax increase are unethical & wasteful. The decision about this tax is up to the people.

“Today, we are calling on the White County Quorum Court to intervene & freeze the county judge’s discretionary spending account until after the special election on September 13^th. Voters on both sides of the tax issue agree: our money should not be spent promoting a political agenda,” said Horton.

For more information, visit BypassTheBypassTax.com or ArkansasPatriot.us

About CRT

Citizens for Responsible Taxation is a watchdog group that formed on July 22^nd, 2011 to oppose the White County tax increase proposal set for a vote on September 13^th. For more information about CRT, visit us at BypassTheBypassTax.com, on Twitter @BypassTaxes or on Facebook at “Bypass Taxes on September 13^th.”

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The Arkansas Patriot is a conservative organization dedicated to equipping citizens with the truth, insuring transparent government, and encouraging citizens to question their government boldly. Contact The Patriot at arkansaspatriot@gmail.com

August 25, 2011

Exactly Who is “Moving White County Forward?”

There is a new radio ad on air in White County, allegedly paid for by the “Committee to Move White County Forward.” That sounds sweet enough, but exactly who makes up this committee? How are they funded? And what qualifies them as a “committee” in the first place?

Without more information, I cannot answer the first question.

I can tell you that the funders of this “committee” are you, the taxpayers, as we have previously documented.

The third question is a bit troublesome for our Moving friends: according to the Arkansas Ethics Commission website, this committee does not exist.

Also, according to Arkansas ethics laws, financial disclosure is required when expenditures surpass $500 in a given month. So this begs another question: why aren’t county officials following state law?

If I and other private citizens have a basic understanding of these rules, it is reasonable to assume that our elected officials do as well.

So why are they ignoring the law?

Is this simply more proof that we cannot trust our elected officials with more of our money?

Nicholas Horton, Chairman, Citizens for Responsible Taxation

August 24, 2011

Trust Deficit: Terms of Contract to Promote Tax Exposed

Terms Show Deceit From Public Officials

I filed a Freedom Of Information request with the county government on Friday. I requested the terms of Mr. Jim House’s contract with the county, including his salary, job description, and the length of the agreement. As of 2:30 p.m. today, my request had still not been filled. So I decided to go down to the county clerk’s office and ask again. Low and behold, I was able to obtain a copy—and it only cost me $1.00. 50 cents a page…that’s a nice profit!

You can view the document here: Page 1 & Page 2.

Here is what we have learned:

Despite public comments to the contrary from House & Judge Lincoln (at a local TEA Party meeting, on local radio, etc.), Mr. House is in fact being paid to promote the tax increase. The terms of his contract expressly state that this is one of his duties:

Mr. House will work with the county judge in any tax promotion that affects economic development in the county…

As reported earlier, we can now confirm Mr. House’s monthly check from the taxpayers is $2,000, plus “clients meals or group meeting expenses.”

Mr. House has actually been on contract with the county since April 1, 2011. So what has he been doing for the last 4 months? And why did we (the taxpayers) pay him $8,000 to do it?

House is only required to work approximately 36 hours per month. That is $55.50 an hour. Not bad work in this economy.

You are also paying for these snazzy little fliers that are being circulated, talking about “what could be” in our county if we only had the bypass tax—they might actually pave a road! You also paid for this snazzy video featured on the proponents’ Facebook page. The terms of the contract state that “all clerical help such as letters or promotional materials will be handled through the County Judge’s Office.”

So our county judge & economic development liaison have spent weeks deceiving the voters about their stated purpose and their use of our money. This raises an extremely important question: Can we trust these people to spend the $18,000,000 in bypass tax revenue appropriately?

So far they have spent/wasted:

$10,000 on Mr. House’s pay
An estimated $15,000 on the special election (per Election Commission estimates)
An unreported amount on promotional materials including a video & flier

How much of that $18,000,000 will be wasted? And why should we trust them?

Nicholas Horton, Chairman, Citizens for Responsible Taxation