In Actuality Examine tales, Star-Telegram journalists dig deeper into questions over information, penalties and accountability. Learn extra. Story concept? [email protected].
A candidate for the Tarrant County Appraisal District board says County Decide Tim O’Hare’s involvement within the race is crossing an moral line.
Chuck Kelley, a Colleyville metropolis council member, is operating for Place 3, one in every of three open seats on the board after the Legislature created publicly elected administrators for appraisal districts.
Kelley stated County Decide Tim O’Hare informed him to not run a couple of minutes after he left O’Hare’s workplace to file his utility for the race.
State property tax administration regulation says candidate purposes for the appraisal district board have to be filed with the county choose, who’s liable for reviewing purposes and determines whether or not to simply accept or reject them.
“Tim calls me on my manner dwelling and says ‘I’m calling you as a good friend,’” Kelley stated, recalling the dialog in January. “’I simply need you to know this as a good friend that I discovered this man and also you don’t need to run towards him.’”
“That man” is Matt Bryant, an actual property investor additionally operating for Place 3.
In a put up on his marketing campaign Fb web page, Kelley stated O’Hare shouldn’t be concerned within the race.
“He has hand chosen 3 candidates and is now utilizing his political donations to push out his endorsements,” Kelley wrote within the April 6 put up. “He’s the one who is operating this election. Would you be comfy with the pinnacle of Tarrant County Elections paying to endorse candidates? Appears to be an ethics violation to me. Would you like him to regulate all the board that values your property?”
The Tarrant Appraisal District is liable for the election and has contracted with the county elections administrator to deal with the election, O’Hare informed the Star-Telegram in an announcement. He stated his position was restricted to receiving the purposes.
“The one election perform my workplace is liable for are these related to the receiving and submitting of Utility for Place on the Poll,” O’Hare wrote. “The county choose workplace is just not appearing because the Elections Administrator for this election.”
He stated he has no intention or skill to regulate the appraisal district, which units value determinations for property taxes and administers exemptions in Tarrant County.
“Whereas it’s amusing to listen to that somebody believes I can management the TAD Board, it merely doesn’t work that manner,” O’Hare stated.
Susan Hays, an Austin and Alpine-based legal professional who works in political regulation, stated O’Hare in his position because the submitting authority shouldn’t be weighing in on the candidates.
“The county choose has the facility to simply accept or reject purposes for the poll. Ethically, gatekeepers shouldn’t be choosing sides. That’s for the voters to resolve.” Hays stated.
Kelley stated Bryantt invited him to a gathering in February at Vaquero Nation Membership in Westlake the place Bryant knowledgeable him that O’Hare could be endorsing Bryant, Eric Morris and Callie Rigney.
Bryant couldn’t be reached for remark.
Morris is a Haltom Metropolis council member operating for Place 1 towards Trae Fowler, a developer and enterprise proprietor, and Sayeda Bilqees Syed, who has served on the TAD board and works as a mechanical engineer.
Callie Rigney, the mayor professional tem of Colleyville, is operating in Place 2 towards Eric Crile, a firefighter and paramedic.
Early voting begins April 22 for the Could 4 election.
We’ve a vital election Could 4th. For the first time ever, the general public will get to elect 3 Tarrant Appraisal District Board members. It’s essential we elect pro-taxpayer advocates. With that, I wholeheartedly endorse Eric Morris, Callie Rigney, and Matt Bryant. pic.twitter.com/fQFZdD2OEK
— Tim O’Hare, Tarrant County Decide (@TimothyOHare) March 21, 2024
O’Hare didn’t reply to a query asking whether or not he referred to as Kelley after he filed, however acknowledged his endorsements.
“Like many different Tarrant County residents, I need to see pro-taxpayer advocates elected to convey reform to the appraisal course of and larger transparency to TAD,” O’Hare stated. “The candidates I’ve endorsed will do exactly that.”
Kelley stated that whereas he and O’Hare are politically aligned, the pair should not pals.
“You already know it’s by no means good when somebody’s calling you as a ‘good friend’ as a result of I had by no means damaged bread with Tim, I’ve by no means had a drink with Tim,” he stated. “Tim is a political person who I helped.”
